©2007 Dr. Karl Squier 1 The RISCA Toolkits Approach to Implementing Comprehensive School Counseling...

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©2007 Dr. Karl Squier

The RISCAToolkits Approachto Implementing Comprehensive

School Counseling Programs

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Primary Goalsfor Our Profession

Comprehensive school counseling programs, based on the ASCA National Model, are implemented in all schools

All students achieve the ASCA National Standards

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How We Got Started Began in Providence (RI) Public

Schools by focusing on four building blocks:

1. District Framework for School Counseling

2. Administrative Handbook

3. Strategic and Annual Implementation plans

4. Professional Development Program

This process evolved into the RISCA Toolkits Approach to Implementing Comprehensive School Counseling Programs based on the ASCA model

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Why Use the Toolkits Approach?

Answers the question: What do I do tomorrow to implement a comprehensive School counseling program based on the ASCA National Model?

Provides structured processes, clearly defined protocols and easy-to-use tools to capture and organize the results of your work

Produces quality documentation that can be used to promote the value of school counseling to student success and the health of the school community

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Eight Toolkits

1—Strategic and Annual Planning

2—Essential Counseling Program

3—School Counseling Data Management

4—Professional Development Program

5—Family and Community Engagement

6—Program Implementation Management

7—Individual Counselors Planning for Results

8—Individual Student Learning Plans

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All Toolkits Produce Products

1—Strategic Plan and Annual Implementation plans

2—Curriculum Framework for School Counseling

3—Data reports on the impact of your counseling program and SPARCs

4—Professional Development program, modules and PD calendar

5—Plan for engaging families and community, and building partnerships

6—Counseling Department administrative handbook

7—Individual counselor plans for the school year

8—Individual Learning Plan program for students

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All Toolkits Consistof a Series of Steps

Each step is designed to help you reflect on your practice and dialog with your colleagues regarding the topic of the toolkit

Each step contributes to the final products produced by the toolkit

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Step 1 in Each Toolkit is a Visit

to the “Toolkit Welcome Center” Four tasks are completed at the

Welcome Center:

1. Assemble a work group2. Gain knowledge about the focus of

the toolkit3. Assess the strengths and

weaknesses of your current approach

4. Develop a plan for using the toolkit in your school and district

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What You Will Do in Each Toolkit

The following slides identify the steps involved in each toolkit

Each step can involve one or more tools

Step 1 (Welcome Center) is assumed—the slides begin with step 2

Completing all toolkits will establish the infrastructure for implementing comprehensive school counseling programs in your school and district

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Toolkit 1—Strategic and Annual Planning

2. Examine the major forces impacting your school counseling program

3. Learn how to implement a complete planning cycle

4. Produce a strategic plan

5. Produce annual implementation plans

6. Implement your plan and monitor progress

7. Produce accountability reports based on your strategic and annual plans

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Toolkit 2—Essential Counseling Program

2. Define your essential counseling program (based on four components of delivery system in ASCA National Model)

3. Develop a scope and sequence for your counseling curriculum

4. Define expected results for curriculum activities and align them with standards

5. Document your essential counseling curriculum

6. Produce a curriculum framework for school counseling for your district

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Toolkit 3—School Counseling Data Management

2. Develop a School Counseling Data Management Program for assessing :

a. Student progress towards standards

b. The impact of implementing your school counseling program

3. Explore the CSCOR and EZAnalyze Web sites

4. Use data to respond to mandates (e.g., RI’s Commissioner's Review)

5. Produce a SPARC for your school and district

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Toolkit 4—Professional Development Program

2. Develop a Professional Development (PD) program for school counselors

3. Publish a School Counseling PD calendar

4. Document PD modules

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Toolkit 5—Family and Community Engagement

2. Develop plan for engaging families and community

3. Develop plan for developing/ enhancing partnerships (e.g., government agencies, higher education, business community)

4. Publish a handbook for family, community and partnerships

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Toolkit 6—Program Implementation Management

2. Define and document school counselor roles and responsibilities

3. Define and document policies and protocols related to school counseling

4. Standardize processes and forms, where appropriate

5. Maintain logs of implementation activities

6. Produce an administrative handbook for school counseling

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Toolkit 7—Individual Counselors Planning for

Results

2. Produce individual counselor plans for the school year

3. Compile points to discuss with your department head and/or principal

4. Identify barriers to achieving results and strategies for overcoming them

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Toolkit 8—Individual Learning Plans

2. Develop an Individual Learning Plan (ILP) program for your school and/or district

3. Develop materials to use with the ILP

4. Gather data that demonstrates student progress toward counseling standards

5. Gather data that demonstrates the impact of planning on student achievement

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What Works for Us

Central coordinating function is key

Completing the toolkits implements a comprehensive counseling program

Professional development is ongoing and reinforces common themes

On-site visits to schools are effective for professional development

Districts have realistic and manageable targets to achieve during the year

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Coaches Program

Goal is to have at least one counselor in every district trained in the use of the toolkits

Coaches are a primary link between RISCA (a statewide organization) and counselors in the schools

Coaches provide on-site technical assistance in how to implement comprehensive school counseling programs

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Commissioner’s Review Process

Schools are required to demonstrate how they are using comprehensive school counseling to support and personalize student learning

RISCA provides technical assistance and tools to help counselors participate in this process

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How Did/Will We Fund This?

School-to-Career and Perkins Grants

Fees for Professional Development events

A whole lot of in-kind contributions

Toolkits and EZAnalyze are free

RISCA is submitting grant proposals

You will find a donation box at the back door

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What We Have Learned These are essential:

— A community of dialog and self-reflection

— Leadership and ownership— Front-end planning— Facilitated process— Short and long-term goals— A smorgasbord of tools to use

(jump in anywhere)

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The Bottom Line

A community of dialog and self-reflection— We must reflect on our practice

— We must talk with each other about how to improve our practice

— Building this community requires common goals that are achieved through shared experiences

The RISCA Toolkits are the vehicles through which this community is built

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How Do YOU Get Started?Decide What Toolkits to Use

Toolkits for All Counselors— Toolkit 2—Essential Counseling Program— Toolkit 3—School Counseling Data Management— Toolkit 7—Personal Planning for Results— Toolkit 8—Individual Learning Plans

Toolkits for Counselor Administrators— Toolkit 1—Strategic and Annual Planning— Toolkit 4—Professional Development Program— Toolkit 5—Family & Community Engagement— Toolkit 6—Program Implementation Management

We Recommend Beginning with Toolkit 2

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RISCA Toolkits Are Free

The RISCA Toolkits are available for free download from the Rhode Island School Counselor Association’s Web site:

www.rischoolcounselor.org Tools are continuously developed,

piloted and revised. Check our Web site periodically to obtain the latest version.

©2007 Dr. Karl Squier 1 The RISCA Toolkits Approach to Implementing Comprehensive School Counseling...

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