Which of the following provides important information when a school counselor is designing their master calendar?

• A. Outcome research
• B. Program audit
• C. Action plans
• D. Job descriptions

Answer: (C)

Designing a master calendar depends on having clear, actionable steps to schedule. Action plans provide that by laying out the specific steps to achieve a goal, who will do each step, and when each step should be completed. With those dates and assignments, you can place tasks on the calendar, set milestones, and map dependencies, making the calendar practical and implementable.

Outcome research tells you about results and effectiveness, which is important for choosing what to pursue but doesn’t give the scheduled tasks themselves. A program audit reviews current programs and identifies gaps or priorities, which can shape what you plan to do, but it still doesn’t break down the exact actions with timelines. Job descriptions define roles and responsibilities, helping you know who handles what, but they don’t supply the step-by-step timeline needed for calendar planning. Action plans, by contrast, supply the concrete, time-bound steps that feed directly into a master calendar.