Implementing a Comprehensive School Counseling Program

1. Implementing a Comprehensive School Counseling Program A link to the current educational reform movement emphasizing achievement and success

2. Comprehensive School Counseling Gary L. Spear, Ed.S Consultant - School Counseling Programs WI Department of Public Instruction P.O. Box 7841 Madison, WI 53707-7841 ph: 608-266-2820 fax: 608-266-3643 gary.spear@dpi.state.wi.us http://www.dpi.wisconsin.gov/sspw/counsl1.html

3. Changes in School Counseling • Vocational/Career • Mental Health • Individualized Services • Comprehensive Developmental • Position • Program • Results-based Training versus Expectations

4. Current Trends In School Counseling • ASCA’s National Standards and Model • American School Counselor Association • Transforming School Counseling Initiative • Education Trust – DeWitt Wallace • Standard “e” • WDGM – update and revision • State Models for School Counseling • Results-based School Counseling

5. At-risk emphasis Crisis driven “On call” approach Measures amount of effort Attends to process of doing work Focus on good intentions Works to maintain the existing system Talks about how hard they work Owned by the counseling staff Provides to ALL students Curriculum driven Calendared time Measures impact related to goals Attends to goals, objectives and outcomes Focus on accomplishments Changes and adapts to be responsive Talks about effectiveness Community owned and supported From Entitlement … To Performance

6. Rationale for a Comprehensive School Counseling Program • A comprehensive school counseling program is an integral component of the school’s academic mission. Comprehensive school counseling programs, driven by student data and based on standards in academic, career and personal/social development, promote and enhance the learning process for all students. • ensures equity and access to a rigorous education for all students • identifies the knowledge and skills all students will acquire as a result of the K-12 comprehensive school counseling program • is delivered to all students in a systematic fashion • is based on data-driven decision making • is provided by a state-credentialed school counselor

7. School Counseling and ESEA/NCLB • Attendance / Truancy • Alternative programs • Character Education • Conflict Resolution • Counseling • Drop Out Retention • Parent Involvement • Classroom Management • Pupil Services Personnel

8. School Counseling Program Impact on Students • Academic Support • Study Skills • Test Taking Strategies • Test Anxiety • Tutoring • Listening Skills • Homework Completion Skills • Proper Course Placement

9. School Counseling Program Impact on Students • Personal/Social Support • Character Education/Citizenship • Bullying/Harassment Intervention • Peer Mediation/Conflict Resolution • Asset Development • Positive School Climate • Critical Thinking Skills • Diversity Skills

10. School Counseling Program Impact on Students • Career • Individual Learning Plan • Program of Study [replace 4 year plans] • Student, Parent, Counselor Educational – Career Conference • Increased sequence of Career/Technicaleducation courses • Fewer “undecided’s”Provide purpose and direction for students

11. How Counseling Programs Impact NCLB • School counseling curriculum helps students learn study skills and personal management skills that improve academic achievement • Students are assisted by the end of grade 8 in planning a program of study • School counselors convey high expectations for educational achievement and help students meet them.

12. How Counseling Programs Impact NCLB • Students are encouraged to take challenging math, science and appropriate career-tech classes • Parents are involved • Students are provided information on postsecondary options • Counseling Programs raise student achievement by personalizing education

13. How Counseling Programs Impact NCLB • As students understand themselves, explore the world around them and establish goals for their futures, they begin to see why an education is important. They no longer attend school simply to receive a diploma or avoid truancy. Instead, students understand the connection between success in school today and success in their careers tomorrow.

14. ESEA/NCLB Outcomes related to a Comprehensive School Counseling Program • Increased student achievement K-12 • Increased attendance rates • Increased collaboration between parents, community and school • Increased enrollment in higher level courses and career classes • Increased post-secondary school enrollments • Decreased discipline problems, suspensions, and expulsions • Decreased drop out rate

15. Effectiveness of School Counseling Programs • Academic Impact across Grades • Elementary: Sink & Stroh [2003] – schools with comprehensive school counseling programs produced higher achievement test scores • Middle: Lapan, Gysbers & Petroski [2001] – schools with comprehensive school counseling programs have students earning higher grades • High: Nelson, Gardner & Fox [1998] – schools with comprehensive school counseling programs had higher ACT scores on every scale of the test. • See: http://dpi.wi.gov/sspw/pdf/effectivescr.pdf

16. Benefits of a Comprehensive School Counseling Program • Students • Promotes a rigorous academic curriculum for all students • Prepares students for the challenges of the 21st century through academic, career, and enhanced personal/social development. • Relates educational programs to future success. • Facilitates career exploration and development. • Develops decision-making and problem-solving skills. • Provides strategies for closing the achievement gap. • Assists in developing effective interpersonal relationship skills. • Provides advocacy for students. • Assures equitable access to educational opportunities.

17. Benefits of a Comprehensive School Counseling Program • Parents • Provides support for parents in advocating for their child’s academic, career, and personal/social development. • Develops a system for their child’s long-range planning and learning. • Increases opportunities for parent/school interaction. • Enables parents to access school and community resources. • Provides training and informational workshops

18. Benefits of a Comprehensive School Counseling Program • School Counselors • Provides direct services to all students. • Ensures involvement in the academic mission of the school district. • Enhances the role of school counselor as a student advocate. • Provides a clearly defined role and function. • Provides a tool for program management and accountability. • Provides quality system support within the district.

19. Benefits of a Comprehensive School Counseling Program • Teachers • Provides an interdisciplinary team effort to address educational needs. • Provides assistance to teachers in classroom management, teaching effectiveness, and affective education. • Provides consultation to assist teachers in their guidance role. • Promotes teaming to increase student achievement • Increases collaboration between teachers and counselors

20. Benefits of a Comprehensive School Counseling Program • Administrators • Integrates school counseling with the academic mission of the school district. • Provides program structure with specific content. • Provides a program promoting student success • Assists administration to use school counselors effectively to enhance learning and development of all students. • Provides a means of evaluating school counseling programs. • Monitors data for school improvement

21. Benefits of a Comprehensive School Counseling Program • School Boards • Provides rationale for implementing a comprehensive developmental counseling program in the school system. • Assurance that a quality counseling program is available to all students. • Supports appropriate credentialing and staffing. • Provides a basis for determining funding allocations for counseling programs. • Furnishes program information to the community. • Gives ongoing information about student competencies attained through school counseling program efforts. • Supports standards-based programming.

22. Benefits of a Comprehensive School Counseling Program • Community • Provides increased opportunity for collaboration among counselors and business, industry, and the community as a whole. • Enhances the role of the counselor as a resource person. • Increases opportunities for business, industry, and the community to participate actively in the total school program. • Provides a potential work force with decision-making skills, pre-employment skills, and increased worker maturity.

23. New Wisconsin Promise • A QUALITY EDUCATION FOR EVERY CHILD • Closing the achievement gap between economically disadvantaged students, students of color and their peers • Providing effective pupil services, special education, and prevention programs to support learning and development for all students while preventing and reducing barriers to student success.

24. The Answer For: • Who am I? • Where have I been? • Where am I going? • What will I need to get there? • How can I help myself? • Who can help me and how? • How can I change when change is required?