“ Every Student Deserves to Hold the World in their Hands” DEVELOPING HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAMS… IMPROVING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT… SCHOOL COUNSELOR’S CAN HELP

OBJECTIVES To emphasize the development of school counseling programs To define the student and their needs To address the purpose of School Counseling and the roles and responsibilities of school counselors To evaluate the importance of financial resources to aid in success of school counseling program “ Every Student Deserves to Hold the World in their Hands”

A TIME TO REFLECT RECALL YOUR EXPERIENCES WITH YOUR SCHOOL COUNSELOR: CONSIDER THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAMS: ____________________________________________________ o Do you remember their names? o How did they help you? o Did they help you? o What do you remember most about them? o From your overall experience, do you think it was beneficial to have a school counselor, why or why not? “ Every Student Deserves to Hold the World in their Hands”

REMEMBERING OUR OWN PATHS… Can reacquaint us with some of the issues facing our students Can reconnect us with the feelings involved Can remind us to value each student’s individuality “ Every Student Deserves to Hold the World in their Hands”

DEFINING THE STUDENT The goal of the school counselor is to create a culturally sensitive environment with a diverse population Ethnicity/Culture Language Sexual orientation Socioeconomic status Children of divorce Transience Goths and Jocks Physical, emotional, and learning disabilities “ Every Student Deserves to Hold the World in their Hands”

Improve student achievement Enhances academic, career, and personal/social development Delivers programs through classroom lessons, individual student planning sessions, and individual and group counseling Collaborates with parents, teachers, administration and other school staff to promote student success Provide leadership and advocacy to promote equity and access to opportunities and rigorous educational experiences for all students PURPOSE OF SCHOOL COUNSELING School Counselors provide a comprehensive school counseling program that focuses on the need of all students “ Every Student Deserves to Hold the World in their Hands”

The ASCA National Model Serves as a framework for the development of a school counseling program Reflects a comprehensive approach Maximizes the full potential of the National Standards documents Directly addresses the current education reform efforts Provides the mechanism for which school counselors and school counseling teams will design, coordinate, implement, and evaluate their programs for students’ success Elements: Foundation, Delivery System, Management System, Accountability Themes: Leadership, Advocacy, Collaboration and Screening, Systematic Change “ Every Student Deserves to Hold the World in their Hands”

-MAJOR ELEMENT- ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM ASKS: How are students different as a result of the program? ____________________________ Results Reports: ensure programs are carried out, and analyzed for effectiveness and changed and improved as needed School counselor performance standards: Evaluation contains basic standards of practice expected of school counselors implementing a school counseling program. Performance standards serve as both a basis for counselor evaluation and a means for counselor evaluation Program audit: provides evidence of the program alignement with the ASCA’s National Model to guide future action within the program and to improve future results for students “ Every Student Deserves to Hold the World in their Hands”

School Counselors are increasingly challenged to demonstrate the effectiveness of the school counseling program in measurable terms in which they must collect and use data that link the program to student achievemen t. School Counselors exhibit accountability by: Showing intent and purpose to “close the gap” Focusing activities on student achievement Getting involved in school improvement Using leadership and facilitation skills to impact the system -MAJOR ELEMENT- ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM “ Every Student Deserves to Hold the World in their Hands”

School Counselors advocate for: Students’ educational needs and work to ensure these needs are met Academic success for every students Removing of systematic barriers that impede on academic success of any student - MAJOR THEME- ADVOCACY “ Every Student Deserves to Hold the World in their Hands”

HOW DO COUNSELORS CONTRIBUTE TO STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT Classes are less likely to be interrupted Students behave better in school Counselors are trained to recognize “early warning signs” in at-risk youth School counselors work with principals, teachers, and other staff to develop and implement school safety, and to prevent school violence Students report being more positive, and having greater feeling of belonging and safety in their schools “ Every Student Deserves to Hold the World in their Hands”

THE DEVELOPMENT OF A HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAM CAN HELP IMPROVE: Access to AP Attendance Graduation Rate Promotion Rate Post Secondary Going Rate Standardized Test Scores

STAKEHOLDERS – UNITE TO TAKE ACTION How do we work together to develop school counseling programs and improve student achievement? “ Every Student Deserves to Hold the World in their Hands”

BUDGET – THE NEED FOR FINANICAL RESOURCES “ Every Student Deserves to Hold the World in their Hands”

WHAT DO ALL STUDENTS DESERVE? …”To Hold the World in their Hands”

REFERENCES Bowers, J. and Hatch, T. (2005). The ASCA national model: A framework for school counseling programs. Alexandria, VA Schmidt, J. J. (2008). Counseling in schools: Comprehensive programs of responsive services for all students. (5 th ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon American School Counselor Association ( ). Retrieved from