Submissions

Articles

Format of the Manuscript

Authors should prepare their manuscript with close adherence to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.; American Psychological Association [APA], 2019). Specific attention should be given for the format of the manuscript abstract, headings, reporting of statistical methods and information, citations and references, and tables and figures. All manuscripts should be double-spaced with one inch margins and 12 point Times New Roman font.

Sections of the Manuscript

Title Page: The first page of the manuscript should include the title page without author information or author notes.

Abstract: The second page of the manuscript should include the abstract that describes the central idea of the manuscript. The abstract should be written in English with an abstract in the authors’ native language (no longer than 150 words).

Keywords: The second page of the manuscript should also include 3 to 5 keywords that also appear in the manuscripts title and/or abstract. These key words appear below the abstract.

Body of the Manuscript: The main body of the manuscript should be 3,000 to 6,000 words (approximately 20 pages) in the English language. Proper use of headers and adherence to the APA Publication Manual (7th ed.; APA, 2019) is important.

Tables and Figures: Tables should appear at the end of the manuscript and should be referenced in the body of the manuscript. Figures should be formatted with a minimum resolution of 600 dots per inch (DPI). See the APA Publication Manual (7th ed.; APA, 2019) for details on formatting this section.

References: The format of the references section and in-text citations should strictly follow the APA Publication Manual (7th ed.; APA, 2019).

Footnotes or Endnotes: Authors should not use footnotes or endnotes but instead incorporate this information into the narrative of the manuscript.

Lengthy Quotes and Permission: Quotes that include 500 cumulative words or more require written permission from the copyright holder. Similarly, previously published tables or figures that are used require the copyright holder’s permission. It is up to the authors to acquire this permission prior to the submission of the manuscript.

Policy Briefs

Guidelines for Writing Policy Briefs for JSCPE

Purpose
Policy briefs published in JSCPE aim to translate research into actionable recommendations for policymakers, educators, school administrators, and counseling professionals. Briefs should be concise, evidence-based, and focus on advancing policies in school-based counseling and educational equity around the world. 

Length and Structure
Policy briefs should be 1,500–2,500 words, excluding references. This translates to 6-10 double-spaced pages (APA style requirement for submission. Note that in practice, a policy brief is likely single-spaced. Thus, the word requirement translates to 3-5 single-spaced pages. Use the following structure:

Please refer to the template for basic structures of policy briefs.

Formatting Guidelines

1. Language: Use clear, accessible, and jargon-free language. Avoid overly technical terms to ensure broader readability.
2. Headings and Subheadings: Use headings to organize sections and facilitate navigation.
3. Visuals: Where applicable, include visuals (e.g., graphs, tables) to convey complex data more effectively. Ensure visuals are high-quality and appropriately labeled.
4. Author Details: Provide full names, affiliations, and contact information for all authors.

Submission Requirements

Policy briefs should be submitted through the JSCPE submission portal. Please ensure the manuscript adheres to the journal’s overall formatting, including the latest edition (currently 7^th) of APA style, and ethical guidelines. For specific questions, contact the editorial team.

This guideline aligns with JSCPE's mission of advancing policy and evaluation in school-based counseling while promoting actionable and research-informed solutions. 

Policy Brief Template

Title Page

• A concise and informative title that captures the focus of the policy brief.

• Provide the author(s)’ name, title, and contact details for follow-up inquiries.
• The title page does not count as part of the page number requirement.
• Acknowledgement(s). 

Executive Summary

• A short (1–2 paragraph) summary that outlines the problem, key findings, and your recommended policy action.
• Use accessible language to immediately grab the reader's attention.

Introduction

• Background and rationale: Contextualize the issue—why it is important and relevant.
• Purpose: State the objective of the brief (e.g., to inform a decision or advocate for a specific action).
• Clearly define the issue being addressed.

Literature Review

• Include relevant literature on the issue 

Policy Options (Discussion & Analysis)

• Present and compare 2–3 potential policy solutions.
• For each option, include:
• Description: What does the option entail?
• Pros and Cons: Evaluate the potential benefits and drawbacks.

Recommendation

• Advocate for your preferred policy option.
• Provide evidence supporting why this option is the most effective or feasible.
• Be clear and action-oriented (e.g., “We recommend implementing X to achieve Y”).

Implementation Considerations

• Identify steps, resources, and potential challenges involved in enacting the recommended policy.
• Suggest strategies for overcoming obstacles.

Conclusion

• Reiterate the significance of addressing the issue.
• Summarize the recommendation and emphasize the desired outcome.

References

• Include citations for all data, studies, and sources used in the brief.
• Use the latest APA style manual, currently 7^th edition.

This template is designed to keep the document concise and focused, 6-10 double-spaced pages in length, while ensuring it remains impactful for decision-makers.