What your school counselor does to impact academic success! Rhonda Williams Ed.D., LPC., NCC Associate Professor University of Colorado Colorado Springs CSCA Executive Director Samantha Haviland, M.Ed., NCC Director of Counseling Denver Public Schools CSCA Past President Agenda Why school counselors have value Current Research abut effective school counseling. National Model/Colorado Model Overview Counselor Training and Duties Collaboration Research. A letter from Arne Duncan, why? Dear Chief State School Officer: As educators across the country work to empower all students to meet the academic and career preparation demands of the 21st century, the role of school counselors has never been more important. School counselors are often the vital link between students aspirations for the future and tangible opportunities for postsecondary success. They are also particularly important for our neediest students, who require expert and accessible guidance as they navigate a challenging and complicated college admissions and career preparation landscape. As State and local educational agencies (SEAs and LEAs) prepare for the start of the 20142015 school year, I want to call attention to the urgent need for highly effective school counselors and discuss the importance of amplifying the impact of school counselors on students academic success, social-emotional well-being, and college and career readiness. Research shows Teaching Adolescents to Become Learners: The Role of Noncognitive Factors in Shaping School Performance: A Critical Literature Review by Farrington, Roderick, Allensworth, Nagaoka, Keyes, Johnson, and Beechum; Completed June 2012 by the University of Chicago Consortium on Chicago School Research Comprehensive literature review on research done on academic success factors for students. (450+ journal articles, presentations, research projects, etc.) In addition to content knowledge and academic skills, students must develop sets of behaviors, skills, attitudes, and strategies that are crucial to academic performance in their classes, but that may not be reflected in their scores on cognitive tests. (page 2) Research shows Teaching Adolescents To Become Learners: The Role of Noncognitive Factors in Shaping School Performance: A Critical Literature Review by Farrington, Roderick, Allensworth, Nagaoka, Keyes, Johnson, and Beechum; Completed June 2012 by The University of Chicago Consortium on Chicago School Research Research shows Academic Behaviors: Going to class Doing Homework Organizing Materials Participating, studying Academic Perseverance: Grit, Tenacity Self-Discipline Self-Control Social Skills: Interpersonal skills, empathy Cooperation Assertion Responsibility Academic Mindset: I belong. My ability and competence grow with my effort. I can succeed at this. This work has value for me. Learning Strategies: Study skills Metacognitive Strategies Self-regulated Learning Time Management Goal-setting Teaching Adolescents To Become Learners: The Role of Noncognitive Factors in Shaping School Performance: A Critical Literature Review by Farrington, Roderick, Allensworth, Nagaoka, Keyes, Johnson, and Beechum; Completed June 2012 by The University of Chicago Consortium on Chicago School Research Research Shows.... All students benefit, both college and non- college bound, with a variety of support including: Students in high schools with strong school counseling programs take more vocational and technical course which clearly impacts the lives of those not moving on to higher education. Academic Planning Test-taking skills Career research Social-skills building Research shows Students who engage with their counselors do better academically earning higher grades and higher test scores. With encouragement and help of counselors, students: Take more advanced math and science courses Are better-prepared with test-taking skills and study habits Have been shown to score higher on college admissions tests Research Shows... Students who receive effective school counseling: Are more likely to finish high school, go to college, and graduate Enjoy better job opportunities immediately following high school. Feel better prepared for the future Expressed greater satisfaction with their status 5 years after high school Were more satisfied in retrospect with their post-high school experience Why School Counselors? What did they learn in that Masters degree I am paying them for anyway? And why 250:1 student ratio? College and Career Research Paving the Road to College: How School Counselors Help Students Succeed: school counselors promoting students academic achievement, college readiness, and transition from 8th grade into high school. (Dropout and college matriculation) Paving the Road to College: How School Counselors Help Students Succeed Effects of Students Middle-School and High-School Experiences on Completion of the Bachelors Degree: critically important research on the impact of students middle and high school experiences on later success in earning a Bachelors degree. (College completion) Effects of Students Middle-School and High-School Experiences on Completion of the Bachelors Degree Improving Academic Achievement in Primary Students Through a Systematic Approach to Guidance and Counseling: reports the results of a statewide study of the impact of Comprehensive Developmental School Counseling programs on elementary students academic achievement. (Academic test scores) Improving Academic Achievement in Primary Students Through a Systematic Approach to Guidance and Counseling College and Career Research Reduce the lack of college knowledge information about the options, academic preparation, necessary processes and financial resources students and their families need to be aware of, as early as the middle grades. Counselors shaped financial aid information provided based on student body characteristics (e.g., bilingual materials for Spanish-speaking families). Counselors actively scouted out potentially eligible students to fill out state financial aid applications (Perna, et al., 2008). Academic Research Improving Academic Achievement in Primary Students Through a Systematic Approach to Guidance and Counseling reports the results of a statewide study of the impact of Comprehensive Developmental School Counseling programs on elementary students academic achievement. (Academic test scores) Improving Academic Achievement in Primary Students Through a Systematic Approach to Guidance and Counseling The Student to Counselor Ratio: Does it Matter? Empirical evidence on the effects on student outcomes when the student-to-counselor ratio is decreased. (Academic test scores) The Student to Counselor Ratio: Does it Matter? Does Student Success Skills have an impact on school connectedness and self-regulation of inner-city, African-American elementary students? school counseling intervention that supports student academic success by helping students develop the necessary skills for success. (Behavior reduction and academic test scores) Does Student Success Skills have an impact on school connectedness and self-regulation of inner-city, African-American elementary students? Caseload Size Matters Because counselors availability was inadequate, most activities at some schools were geared toward the average and/or most needy, likely resulting in fewer supports for other students, especially college-eligible students in low resource schools. At low-resource schools, other priorities appeared to take precedence over college counseling. Counselors at all high schools were too overloaded to achieve their advising goals and meet student/parent expectations. School systems need to acknowledge non-college-bound youth and assist them in developing skills and finding careers. Socioeconomic status appears to influence counselor recommendations. (Perna, et al., 2008). Caseload Size Matters Information about cost is very important, but especially for lower- income students (and parents). Students and their parents often do not have accurate information about college costs. Low-income families and first-generation college-goers need more targeted assistance in differentiating between information of greater and lesser importance, and interpreting and using it. Research into practice Goals: Increase access to academics by decreasing emotional crisis or personal issues and increasing college and career motivation. Support students in being effective students including academic skills, attendance, and behaviors. Methods: Creating goals based on UIP subcategories and school goals. Groups during lunch to support student attendance in class. School wide initiatives to address issues in preventative manner. Individual interventions. 80% of time spent on Student Services Research into practice Academic Behaviors: Organization lessons Attendance interventions Academic Perseverance: Grit building groups/individual Emotional support Self-discipline coaching Motivational interviewing Social Skills: Empathy, communication, responsibility lessons or groups Skill building on assertion Academic Mindset: Motivational interviewing Narrative theory sessions Learning Strategies: Time-management coaching Goal-setting and goal- achievement Study skills building Research in Practice Resources for effective school counseling: Responsive Classroom is one of 23 exemplary evidence-based social and emotional learning programs The I Can Problem Solve program teaches students how to generate alternative solutions, anticipate consequences, and effectively solve problems Mind Up practices are designed to enhance students self awareness, focus attention, promote self-regulation, and reduce stress. Second Step provides instruction in social and emotional learning with units on skills for learning, empathy, emotion management, friendship skills, and problem solving. Steps to Respect is a school-wide program (3 rd -6 th grade) designed with implementation occurring in three phases: administrators scan their school environment and bullying issues; all adults are trained; and classroom-based lessons are taught CASEL Guide.2013 CASEL Guide What job duties are expected of your school counselor? What leadership roles do you wish your counselor could take for your school? How are you utilizing yours? Many school counselors are used for: master schedule building testing coordinators detention room coverage discipline classroom coverage clerical responsibilities at the cost of $267/daily Compared to $72/day for administrative support Its not about me, [the principal]. Its not about her, [the school counselor]. It is about us and what we can collectively achieve. Jon Prince Appendix And more information than you ever couldve wanted in an hour Collaboration The College Board National Association of Secondary School Principals American School Counselor Associaton School principals provide leadership and direction. create and sustain a school climate with high expectations for all students cultivate a college-going culture. School counselors, have unique skills to help all students and their families successfully attain rigorous academic preparation navigate the confusing path to college help students develop coping skills for social emotional intelligence. Greatest Need Gaps 3 Critical Areas Development of an effective principal-counselor relationship: Mutual trust and respect Principal-counselor communication Shared vision and decision making Differences Principals focus on high-quality communication looked for respect for their goals and vision more likely to believe that the 10 characteristics of a good principal-counselor relationship identified were present their own schools. Counselors focus on the frequency of communication sought professional and personal respect. Characteristics of an Effective Principal- Counselor Relationship* Survey Results: ImportancePresent in my schoolGap 1. Open communication that provides multiple opportunities for input to decision making. Communication requires both the principal and the counselor to be invested Principals commitment to continuous dialogue. Effect of both formal and informal communication Prin.37 Sch Co 1.06 2. Opportunities to share ideas on teaching, learning and schoolwide educational initiatives. Prin.32Sch Co..89 Principals understand counselors have the pulse of the school. Daily communication. Conversations occurred wherever and whenever they were needed 3. Sharing information about needs within the school and the community Prin.42Sch Co 1.00 Shared common values, work through mistakes, becoming more effective in the process. 4. School counselor participation on school leadership teams Prin.28Sch Co. 82 Feeling valued as school counselors Seek their advice Listen to their suggestions. Have a voice within their schools. Experts in their field, Presence was essential to the success of the leadership team 5. Joint responsibility in the development of goals and metrics that indicate success Prin.45Sch Co Work together to ensure that these students are not lost. Used data to improve results on state tests. 6. Mutual trust between the principal and school counselors Prin.53Sch Co 1.10 Trust Personal trust. Building trust first starts with you having a relationship, to really understand who you are, what your vision is, what your philosophy is, why thats important. Ultimately, though, its important to have the accountability of a particular outcome. 7. A shared vision of what is meant by student success Prin.65Sch Co.98 what constitutes success for their students; be on the same page share a common vision 8. Mutual respect between the principal and school counselors Prin.44Sch Co 1.02 Able to have honest communication Keep focus on the issue not individual What is best for students. Respect was not only given, but earned. Rely on each other, Colleagues are only interested in the success of their students. 9. Shared decision making on initiatives that impact student success Prin.37Sch Co 1.06 Understand the importance of shared decision & collaboration. View the counselors as vital to increasing student achievement, Role of counselors is more important than pushing papers. Integral member of the leadership team Key players 10. A collective commitment to equity and opportunity Prin.56 Sch Co 1.00 Have the same commitment to putting students first. Counselors have a strong connection to the student population. Willingness to work with struggling students OR advanced students. Suggestions from the Stars Using Data driven decision making Keep logs Utilize collaborative decision making Giving presentation of role of school counseling backed up by data Change policies Understand vision and role of each. Be accountable. Earn trust backed up by data Set up regular communication Develop shared vision Take on leadership roles Use other communication via texting Get to know each other on a personal basis Communicate to teachers how school counselors can support their work. Open door policy Counselors believe that educating the principal and others about the role of the counselor in the school is important, just as is it is important in understanding the principals job.