Transcript Introduction to School Counseling

INTRODUCTION TO SCHOOL
COUNSELING
February 2013
SCHOOL COUNSELORS ARE…

Focused on the Wellness and Achievement of
ALL Students

Aligned with State and District Goals

Concerned with Effectiveness and Results

Committed to Evidence-Based Practices
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Dedicated to Family Engagement and Early
Intervention
Skilled in Collaboration with Students, Staff and
Community
SCHOOL COUNSELING
DEFINED
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
School Counseling is concerned with the academic,
social/personal and career development of all
students in public schools.
School Counselors help students manage problems
that interfere with learning and advocate for
student access to essential educational and support
programs
School Counselors offer K-12 coordinated services
across the spectrum of prevention, intervention and
crisis.
Why do school counselors focus on all
students K-12?
Dropping Out of High School is not a single event…
it is a series of disengagements from the school
system that begins as far back as elementary
school.
Bullying by a few students is not a problem when
the majority of students recognize the behavior
and stand up against it.
Career Readiness is a blend of self-awareness,
preparation, job skills, and career knowledge that
even the highest achieving students need.
ADDRESSING BARRIERS TO
SUCCESS
Current Challenges: School Safety; Drop Out
Prevention; Career/College Readiness; Family
Engagement; Positive Climate…
School Counseling Response:
HIGH SCHOOL:
MIDDLE SCHOOL:
ELEM SCHOOL:
HIGH QUALITY SCHOOL
COUNSELING PROGRAMS
Adhere to the American School Counseling Association
National Model (ASCA)
 Advocate for individuals and also works systemically
to solve problems.
 Operate within a K-12 plan, sets goals for
improvement, creates a calendar of activities, reports
on results, follows a cycle of program evaluation.
 Informed by data-driven decision-making, technology,
RTI; evidence-based practice.
 Team with staff, parents & community resources
 Act as a trusted advisor to many constituents

Academic
Career
PERSONAL/SOCIAL
PERSONAL/SOCIAL
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
PROBLEM: A big increase in playground discipline
referrals was taking away instructional time.
SOLUTION:
School counselor implemented a Peer Conflict
Manager program
 The number of students who could peacefully
resolve a conflict increased from 55% to 88%

The number of suspended students was reduced
from 13% to 3% over the period of 3 years
ACADEMIC
Career
Personal/ Social
ACADEMIC INTERVENTION
MIDDLE SCHOOL
PROBLEM:
After-School detention referrals went from 65 to 120
students over a three month period.
SOLUTION:
School Counselor determined reasons for detentions:
 66% Missing Assignments; 34% Inappropriate
Behavior
Counselor matched an intervention to the problem:
 Establish a Homework Club and several
after-school tutoring classes.
Academic
CAREER
Personal/ Social
CAREER DEVELOPMENT
HIGH SCHOOL
PROBLEM: Poor college readiness skills of graduates
and low parent attendance at conferences.
SOLUTION: Implement a 9th-12th grade advisory
program with student-led conferences.
 Parent attendance at evening guidance events
increased from 150 to 500 parents
 Scholarship dollars for students increased from
$857,000 to $950, 000
 Graduation rates improved from 84 % to 89%
WASHINGTON STATE RESOURCES
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The Washington Framework for Comprehensive
Guidance and Counseling
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Washington School Counselor Association
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http://www.cgcpframework.org/
http://www.wa-schoolcounselor.org/
OSPI Comprehensive Guidance
http://www.k12.wa.us/SecondaryEducation/GuidanceCo
unseling/default.aspx