Recognized American School Counselors Association Model Program (RAMP)

1. RecognizedAmerican School Counselors Association Model Program (RAMP) Is your school counseling program ready to RAMP?

2. Session Goals • What is RAMP? • Is the school counseling program ready to RAMP? • What are the first steps? • What tools are available to help a school counseling program RAMP?

3. ASCA National Model

4. What is RAMP? • RAMP = Recognized ASCA Model Program • RAMP was created in 2003 to identify schools that have successfully implemented the ASCA National Model. • It is also a vehicle for RAMP schools to showcase their programs to administrators, school board members and the community at large.

5. Benefits of RAMP • An engraved plaque, suitable for display on the office wall or in the school's trophy case • Letter sent to the school board, principal and superintendent • Template press release for the school counselor to individualize and send to local press • Use of RAMP logo for school counselor’s business cards, letterhead, Web site or printed materials

6. Benefits of RAMP • Recognition at ASCA’s annual conference • Two tickets to the RAMP Recognition Luncheon during ASCA's annual conference • Recognition in ASCA School Counselor magazine and on ASCA's Web site

7. RAMP by the Numbers • 2003-2004 5 • 2004-2005 8 • 2005-2006 18 • 2006-2007 81 • 2007-2008 63 • 2008-2009 72 • 2009-2010 86 • 2010-2011 101

8. RAMP by the Numbers in 2011 47 Elementary Schools 19 Middle Schools 35 High Schools

9. RAMP by the Numbers in 2011 • Ramp schools represent 20 states • 20 of the 2011 RAMP schools are ReRAMP

10. RAMP Application Components • Each of the 12 components is scored based on a rubric. • The scores go from a low of 1 to a high of 5. • To receive RAMP, the average score from the 3 reviewers must be a 54 or higher.

11. Application Process • The RAMP application is available on the ASCA website - www.schoolcounselor.org – click on ASCA National Model. • Any school can apply. The application fee is $200 per entry providing the person submitting is an ASCA member. The fee is $400 for nonmembers. • Applications are due – October 15, 2010 – and are reviewed by a panel of school counseling professionals once a year. • The RAMP designation is valid for three years.

13. Component of RAMP • Statement of Philosophy • Mission Statement • School Counseling Program Goals • Competencies and Indicators • Management Agreement • Advisory Council • Calendars • Classroom Guidance Curriculum Action Plan • Classroom Guidance Results Report • Small-Group Responsive Services • Closing the Gap Results Report • Program Evaluation Reflection

14. Where to Start? First Steps: • School counselors conduct a program audit • School counselors write a Philosophy Statement • School counselors write a School Counseling Mission Statement • School counselors examine their data to determine program goals • School counselors develop a timeline

15. Tools for Getting Ready to RAMP • Using the Virginia Professional School Counseling Program Manual • Completing the program audit • Completing the RAMP Readiness Audit

17. Purpose of the Manual • Purpose • Provide school counselors with the tools needed to develop a comprehensive school counseling program • Aligned with the • ASCA National Model • Standards for School Counseling Programs in VA Public Schools • NCLB • Manual consists of: • Foundation, Management, Delivery, Accountability, Core Competencies • Introduction of each component • Strategies and tips • Audit • Action plan • Examples • Resources

18. Begin with a Program Audit Why Audit? • Accesses progress • Identifies what is or isn’t working and program gaps • Provides a starting point for work that needs to be done

19. RAMP Readiness Audit • Completing the one-page RAMP Readiness Audit • The audit will give school counselors a good picture of what they have accomplished and their next steps • School counselors collaborate with others who are going for RAMP or who have gotten RAMP • Create an action plan and a time-line: • What can be accomplished this year? • What will the school counselors need? (time? resources?)

20. Factors to Consider when Going for RAMP • Do the school counselors have a comprehensive school counseling program based on the ASCA National Model in place? • Do the school counselors have administration support? • Do the school counselors have access to school data (e.g., School Report Card)? • Are school counselors using data to make program decisions and demonstrate the impact of their program? • Have the school counselors audited their school counseling program? • Do the school counselors have support from other school counselors (in their building or district) and district counseling leadership?

21. Foundation Foundation consists of the philosophy, mission, and standards of a comprehensive school counseling program Foundation RAMP Components: • Statement of Philosophy • Mission Statement • Program Goals • Competencies & Indicators

22. Philosophy Statement Philosophy Statement • Describes what do the school counselor believes about: students, school, education, school counseling program, his/her roles in the educational process, and the use of data and evaluation RAMP Requirements: • Half to one-page statement that address beliefs, student needs, counselor’s role, program plan, use of data, evaluation and ethical standards • Half-page narrative describing how philosophy statement was developed • Aligned with needs of school supported by data

23. Mission Statement A Mission Statement: • Explains counseling program purpose • Align with the school’s mission statement • 3 – 4 sentences in length (easy to remember) • Is student focused and describes long-range results for students • Advocates for equity and access for all students RAMP Requirements: • Mission Statement • Half-page narrative describing how it was developed

24. School Counseling Program Goals School Counseling Program Goals: • School counseling program goals are specific and measurable and promote improved student achievement, attendance or behavior • They can address school wide issues or closing-the-gap issues for smaller group of students RAMP Requirements: • Program goals promote student achievement, attendance or behavior for all students. • Goals are based on date and address school wide or closing-the-gap issues • Half-page narrative describing how program goals are selected and how they promote domain (personal/social, academic, career) development

25. Competencies and Indicators Competencies and Indicators: • School specific competencies and indicators from ASCA National Model are the foundation for classroom guidance lessons, small groups and activities • They are linked to the school counseling program, mission and goals RAMP Requirements: • Use ‘Template’ to show grade-level specific competencies and indicators for the school counseling program • Half-page narrative describing how competencies are developed, reviewed and revised each year

26. Delivery System Delivery System is the vehicle for providing school counseling services to students, and stakeholders, and includes the school guidance curriculum, individual student planning, responsive services an system support. Delivery RAMP Components: • Classroom Guidance Curriculum Action Plan • Small-group Responsive Services

27. Delivery - Crosswalking • List school counseling programs and services • Align with ASCA National Standards • Identify state and local standards • Indicate the programs and services that meet the national, state, and local standards • Review crosswalk to see where standards are not covered or need to be improved (gaps).

28. Classroom Guidance Curriculum: Action Plan and Lessons Classroom Guidance Curriculum: • Curriculum action plan for the school counseling program and detailed lesson plans for three activities • An action plan and lesson plan template available RAMP Requirements: • Lesson plan includes the dates delivered, standards, competencies and indicators covered • Action plan includes detailed lesson plans for three activities from the plan • Half-page narrative addresses how the rationale for the topics were selected and reflects effectiveness of lessons, and how they were delivered

29. Small Group Responsive Services Small Group Responsive Services: • Provide a list of all groups conducted including name of group, focus, number of participants, name of counselor, times met • Include lesson plans for one small group including dates, topic for each session, process, perception and results data for the group RAMP Requirements: • A list of all groups conducted during one program year including details listed above • Half-page narrative addresses how and why the group topics and participants were selected and how the results will be used

30. Management System • Management System coordinates and organizes activities and responsibilities associated with the implementing of the school counseling program. After examining school’s date, the school counselor consults with stakeholders, and determines program needs. Then plans are made to meet those needs are create responsibilities and timelines are established. • Management RAMP Components: • Management Agreement • Advisory Council • Calendar • Program Evaluation Reflection

31. Management Agreement Management Agreement: • Management agreement for each counselor, signed within first two months of school year • Includes percent of time allocated for delivery services, additional responsibilities RAMP Requirements: • Management agreement for each counselor, signed by administrator • Includes time allocation, additional responsibilities and professional development • Half-page narrative describes how duties are distributed and how these decisions are made

32. Management Agreement -Collaborate with supervising administrator to develop an annual written agreement -Align program goals with counselor responsibilities. -Based on priority goals, responsibilities, and caseload numbers, list an approximate determination of how the counselor’s time will be spent. -Establish a regular schedule of meetings (weekly meetings are recommended) with the supervising administrator should be listed. -List professional development opportunities, resources, etc.

33. Advisory Council Advisory Council: • Evidence of advisory council meetings include agendas, minutes and identification of members • Primary purpose of advisory council is to improve school counseling program and to apply for RAMP RAMP Requirements: • Two advisory council meeting agendas and minutes • Evidence that Advisory council is representative of school community • Half-page narrative describing how feedback from the advisory council is used.

34. Advisory Council “An advisory council is a representative group of persons appointed to both advise and assist the school counseling program…to help build an excellent school counselingprogram” (ASCA, 2005a, p.47). Advisory council has membership representative of the school & community demographics and the various school stakeholders. The advisory council meets at least twice a year to review the school counseling program audit, goals, and program results and to make recommendations. The advisory council advocates for the school counseling program and acts as a communications conduit to the community.

35. Calendars Calendars: • Master calendar for most recent academic year including school counseling activities and events for the school counseling program • Two weekly calendars for each school counselor, one for fall and spring including dates and specific information as possible RAMP Requirements: • Master calendar for most recent school year and two weekly calendars for each counselor • Half-page narrative explains the calendar and how adjustments are made

36. Accountability Accountability provides a plan to evaluate school counseling programs and includes results reports, school counselor performance evaluation and the program audit. Accountability RAMP Components: • Classroom Guidance Results Report • Closing the Gap Results Report • Program Evaluation Reflection

37. Accountability Audit Are the school counselors using data to … • Understand the achievement gap at the school? • Evaluate school counseling services? • Demonstrate school counselor impact and effectiveness? • Inform program improvement? • Evaluate the school counseling program annually?

38. Classroom Guidance Curriculum: Results Report Results Report: • Results report for the three lessons for the school counseling program • A results report template is available RAMP Requirements: • Results report presents the results of the three classroom guidance curriculum lessons • Half-page narrative addresses how the results will impact future school counseling activities

39. Closing-the-Gap Results Report Closing the Gap Results Report: • Report is tied to the school counseling program goals and should include objectives, target group, curriculum/materials, activities/interventions, process, perception and results data, implications for the school counseling program and the school RAMP Requirements: • Results report is tied to the school counseling program goals, and reports exemplary data • Half-page narrative addresses how the gap was identified and why the activities or interventions were chosen as well as next steps

40. Program Evaluation Reflection Program Evaluation Reflection: • Presents the ways in which the school’s comprehensive school counseling program use leadership, advocacy and collaboration to create systemic change to make a difference for students RAMP Requirements: • Reflection may be presented in video/audio file (3-5 minutes) or written (500-1,500 wds) • The four elements (leadership, advocacy, collaboration, systemic change) must be covered