Nebraska School Counseling Impacts Student Achievement Percolate Public Relations with Your Data

1. Nebraska School CounselingImpacts Student AchievementPercolate Public Relations with Your Data

2. Objectives • Session participants will: • Identify how program data can be part of Public Relations campaign • Learn strategies we are finding helpful in planning and designing a PR campaign • View and examine sample PR materials • Learn where NE resources will continue to be posted for use by all counselors

3. Statewide School Counseling Program Evaluation • Sponsored by: Nebraska School Counselor Association & Nebraska Career Technical Education funding • Conducted by: Center for School Counseling Outcome Research and Evaluation at University of Massachusetts –Amherst • 5 additional states participated (CT, UT, MO, WI, RI) to begin national databank

4. Evaluation Results This evaluation study found evidence that school counseling programs in Nebraska high school contribute significantly to student’s educational outcomes. Full report at: www.education.ne.gov/cared

5. School Counseling Programs Make a Difference! Positive Student Outcomes •Higher Graduation Rates •Higher Attendance Rates •Higher Mathand Reading Proficiency •Lower Suspension and Lower Discipline Rates •Improved Technical Career Skills

6. School Counseling Programs Make a Difference! Statistically Significant Factors of Programs and Practices

7. Statistically Significant to PROGAM structure • Use student data for program planning • Yearly audits for program improvement • Job descriptions match actual duties • Counselor time • High standards for all students • Resources for professional development • Counselors on curriculum and education committees • Parent Involvement School Data indicated morepositive: Suspension Rates Discipline Rates Attendance Rates Math Proficiency Reading Proficiency

8. Statistically Significant to School Counselor PRACTICES • Counselors consult with administrators • College counseling for all students. • Assist all students with academic and career plans-Personal Learning Plan • Collaboration with students and parents with Personal Learning Plans • Provide all students and parents with up-to-date information about the world of work. www.NebraskaCareerConnections.org • Support all families in filling out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid Form) School Data indicated morepositive: Suspension Rate Discipline Rates Attendance Rates Math Proficiency Rates Reading Proficiency Rates

9. Statistically Significant Practices Using Nebraska Career Education Materials and Resources • Instruction on NCE Model for career development • Use C4C-Curriculum for Careers-exploration course • NCE Programs of Study-sequence of rigorous academic and • career technical education • NCE Programs of Study-lead to an associate’s degree, • baccalaureate, certificate or license • Counselors collaborate with faculty to develop Programs of Study • NebraskaCareerConnections.org for up-to-date information of world of work. • NebraskaCareerConnections.org to develop resumes Implementation NCEcan reasonably be expected to: Lower Suspension Rates Lower Discipline Rates Higher Attendance Rates Higher Math Proficiency Rates Higher Reading Proficiency Rates

10. School Counseling Programs Make a Difference! Impact of lower Counselor-to-Student Ratios • •Higher Graduation Rates • •Higher Attendance Rates • •Program of Study Completion Rate • •Improved Technical Career Skills • AYP Schools had lower ratios

11. Nebraska Data Results Use of time survey indicates Counselors are assigned many non-counseling program duties.

12. Recommendations •Deliver a Comprehensive Program based on Nebraska/ASCA national model standards •Seta goal: 80% of School Counselor time in activities that directly benefit student achievement •Increase teamwork between principals and counselors •Lower student-to-counselor ratios •Implement Personal Learning Plans to prepare ALL students for College and Career Readiness

13. Have DATA?...............So WHAT? If no one knows about the data If no one understands the data If no one uses the data Then, the valuable information is lost. We did not want that to happen.

14. Public Relations Campaign Goals • Select effective and politically correct target audiences • All counselors have access to ready to use resources • PR resources to promote state and customized local results data • Offer a variety of media and delivery strategies

15. P Preparing for Each Target Audience Consider a variety of media for each audience Think like your audience. Learn their language and use it. Describe what’s in it….. for them? How do they prefer to receive information? Go to your target audience.

16. Educate and Advocate to Target Audiences Priority List School Counselors Administrators and School Boards Students/Parents and Education Stakeholders State Governor and Legislators Federal DOE and Senators/Congressmen

17. School Counselor Professional Development

18. Administrators and School Boards

19. Parents/Students and Education Stakeholders

20. State/Federal Legislators and Education Stakeholders

21. Contact Information Rich Katt State Director Career Technical Education Nebraska Department of Education 301 Centennial Mall South Lincoln, NE 68509 Rich.katt@nebraska.gov www.education.ne.gov/nce Doug Hauserman ASCA Governing Board, Midwest VP NSCA Governing Board, Legislative Chair Westside High School Counselor 8701 Pacific Street Omaha, NE 68114 Phone: (402)343-2612 dhauserman@westside66.org Donna Hoffman School Counseling Director Nebraska Department of Education 301 Centennial Mall South Lincoln, NE 68509 Phone (402) 471-4811 donna.hoffman@nebraska.gov www.education.ne.gov/cared Nebraska School Counselor Association www.neschoolcounselor.org American School Counselor Association www.schoolcounselor.org