Smoother Sailing is an expanded guidance program to facilitate the development of life coping skills among students in kindergarten through fifth grade in the Des Moines Independent Community School District. Although the philosophy, goals, and objectives of the Smoother Sailing program are consistent with the Elementary Counseling and Guidance program introduced into the district in 1985, a counselor-to-student ratio of 1 to 250 was designed to allow counselors sufficient time to more adequately meet the needs of students and provide a comprehensive developmental counseling and guidance program. Evaluation efforts examined systematic case studies; counselor activities; and building administrator, teacher, and student perceptions of the counseling program between and among three comparison groups. Other evidence suggested that Smoother Sailing counselors contributed to developing a positive educational climate. They conducted inservices with staff and other counselors, were available to provide support during parent-teacher conferences, and facilitated parent/school and student/teacher support. The appendix includes data bar graphs; a counseling program weekly log; administrator, teachers, and student perception surveys; as well as other study data. (6 references) (SI)