The American School Counseling Association (ASCA) National Model (2003) indicates a paradigm shift in school counseling programs from service-centered for some of the students to program-centered for every student. The main question is how students are different as a result of participating in school counseling programs. As a result professional school counselors (PSCs) are posed to demonstrate their contributions to students' academic achievement the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001 has led to an intense focus on educator accountability. This study examined whether performance-based, data driven projects in counselor preparation programs enhance PSCs' abilities to collaborate with instructional leaders and advocate for students' academic achievement effectively. (Contains 1 table.)