How to Use School
Counselor Standards to
Your Advantage
Cynthia Floyd
School Counseling Consultant
NC Department of Public Instruction
Objectives
• To increase understanding of the NC School
Counselor Professional Standards and evaluation
rubric and of G.S. 115C-316.1
• To enhance capacity to support and benefit from
effective comprehensive school counseling
programs that promote student and school
success.
The ASCA National Model
In 2006, NC aligned school counselor standards
with national best practices as documented in the
American School Counselor Association National
Model: A Framework for School Counseling which
provides guidance for implementing evidencebased school counseling programs which are
• Comprehensive
• Student Centered
• Data Driven
3
The ASCA
National Model
Framework
What it is that school counselors do?
• School counselors design and deliver
comprehensive school counseling programs
that promote student achievement.
• These programs are comprehensive in scope,
preventive in design and
developmental in nature.
Academic
• Remove barriers to learning and
support student academic,
career and personal/social
Personal/
Career
Social
success
Vision of NC School Counselors
NC State Board of Education, 2008
“Schools need professional school counselors who are
adept at creating systems for change and at building
relationships within the school community. Professional
School Counselors create nurturing relationships with
students that enhance academic achievement and
personal success as globally productive citizens in
the twenty-first century. Utilizing leadership,
advocacy, and collaboration, professional school
counselors promote academic achievement and
personal success by implementing a
comprehensive school counseling program that
encompasses areas of academic, career, and
personal/social development for all students.”
Standards and Evaluation
Details can be found in the Users’ Guide
at http://ncees.ncdpi.wikispaces.net/
(Click on “Support Staff” on the right)
Evaluation Rubric
The School Counselor Evaluation Rubric can
also now be found in Home Base under
Educator Effectiveness
School Counselor Job Description
So what does the law really say?
• Basically, that school counselors are to spend the
majority of their time being school counselors as
defined by their State and national standards.
• 80% of the school counselors’ time in the delivery
of counselor services to or for students
• 20% of the school counselors’ time in activities to
support their programs such as participating in
professional development, program planning,
analyzing data from which to plan their services,
collaborating with other staff, etc.
So what does the law really say?
• Imbedded in the 20% of time in program
management is also the expectation of fair-share
responsibilities which are the routine running of the
school responsibilities that all members of the
school staff take equal turns doing to ensure the
school’s smooth operation.
• The law specifically states school counseling
services and program support (the 80/20) does
NOT include coordination of testing
The ASCA
National Model
Framework
20%
80%
The ASCA
National Model
Framework
80%
20%
White House Reach Higher Initiative
This has lead to increased support of school
counseling at the national level such as
• Recommendations from the US Department of
Education regarding school counseling
• The First Lady speaking at the ASCA
Conference in support of school counselors
• Two national White House Convenings of
professionals seeking to promote best practices
in school counseling
• Promotion of the 80% of time in providing
counseling services
White House Reach Higher Initiative
The Reach Higher initiative seeks to help make sure
all students understand what they need to complete
their education, including
• Exposing students to college and career
opportunities
• Understanding financial aid eligibility that can
make college affordability a reality
• Encouraging academic planning and summer
learning opportunities
• Supporting school counselors who can help
more kids get into college
The first annual White House hosting of the
National School Counselor of the Year ceremony
“Every day our school counselors
help young people become the
people they’re meant to be and
achieve what they were put on
this earth to achieve. And that is
truly an awesome responsibility –and it’s also a tremendous
privilege. So today, on behalf of
myself and my husband and a grateful country,
I want to just say thank you…. And we look
forward to continuing our work together to
support all of you in the months and years
ahead.” ~ First Lady Michelle Obama
21st Century
NC School Counseling Programs are:
•
•
•
•
Data driven
Comprehensive, preventive and developmental
Provide equity and access to every student
Promote student achievement for college and
career readiness
• Evaluate and seek continuous improvement/
Accountable to stakeholders
The Question to Answer is
How are students different as a result of
the school counseling program?
The performance evaluation rubric is based on the 2008
NC Professional School Counseling Standards
Standard 1 –School counselors demonstrate leadership,
advocacy, and collaboration.
Standard 2 –School counselors promote a respectful
environment for a diverse population of students.
Standard 3 –School counselors understand and facilitate
the implementation of a comprehensive school
counseling program.
Standard 4 –School counselors promote learning for all
students
Standard 5 – School counselors actively reflect on their
practice.
Standard 1 – School counselors demonstrate
leadership, advocacy, and collaboration.
What does this look like? (examples)
• School counselors collaborating with other school
personnel for school improvement
• School counselors reviewing school data and the
school improvement plan from which they
determine what school counseling services they
need to provide
• School counselors advocating for initiatives that
improve student success
Potential barriers to this standard?
Standard 2 – School counselors promote a
respectful environment for a diverse population
of students
What does this look like? (examples)
• School counselors using materials that reflect
diversity and counteract stereotypes
• School counselors facilitating school-wide
implementation of character education
• School counselors implementing initiatives that
help other school staff understand influences of
different cultural backgrounds
continued…
Standard 2 – School counselors promote a
respectful environment for a diverse population
of students (continued)
What does this look like? (examples)
• School counselors assisting students from all
backgrounds with rigorous goals
• School counselors collaborating with other school
staff on customized plans to address student
needs
• School counselors collaborating with families and
community resources to address needs
Potential barriers to this standard?
Standard 3 – School counselors understand and
facilitate the implementation of a comprehensive
school counseling program
What does this look like? (examples)
• School counselors conducting needs assessments
to determine what counseling services to provide
• School counselors conducting academic, college
and career guidance
• School counselors conducting small group
counseling and classroom guidance based on
identified needs
continued…
Standard 3 – School counselors understand and
facilitate the implementation of a comprehensive
school counseling program (continued)
What does this look like? (examples)
• School counselors conducing school-wide
activities in response to identified needs
• School counselors collaborating with teachers to
integrate Guidance Essential Standards into other
curricular areas
Potential barriers to this standard?
Standard 4 – School counselors promote
learning for all students
What does this look like?
• School counselors planning strategies to
address achievement gaps
• School counselors reviewing academic,
behavior and/or attendance data to determine
which students need which counseling services
• School counselors collaborating with school
staff, families and other stakeholders to address
student needs
continued…
Standard 4 – School counselors promote
learning for all students (continued)
What does this look like?
• School counselors implementing activities that
enhance critical-thinking, problem-solving and
communication skills
• School counselors managing their time for 80%
of time providing counseling services
• School counselors utilizing technology to
support their programs
Potential barriers to this standard?
Standard 5 – School counselors actively reflect
on their practice.
What does this look like? (examples)
• School counselors maintain written plans of
data-driven goals and strategies
• School counselors participate in professional
development that will enhance their skills to
accomplish their goals
• School counselors assess their activities and
overall programs for effectiveness and needed
changes
Potential barriers to this standard?
Your best cheat sheet for artifact examples
is the evaluation Summary Rating Form
On the NCEES web page
Sample List of Observable Activities
Go to the NCEES NCDPI School Counseling Wiki page
and click on “School Counselor Evaluation Rubric”
List of Sample Appropriate Observation Opportunities
Can also link to this from the NCEES page
How does all this coincide with
NC GS 115C-316.1?
Direct services shall consist of:
(1) Delivering the school guidance curriculum
through large group guidance, interdisciplinary
curriculum development, group activities, and
parent workshops.
How does all this coincide with
NC GS 115C-316.1?
Direct services shall consist of (continued):
…
(2) Guiding individual student planning through
individual or small group assistance and
individual or small group advisement.
How does all this coincide with
NC GS 115C-316.1?
Direct services shall consist of (continued):
…
(3) Providing responsive services through
consultation with students, families, and staff;
individual and small group counseling; crisis
counseling; referrals; and peer facilitation.
How does all this coincide with
NC GS 115C-316.1?
Direct services shall consist of (continued):
….
(4) Performing other student services listed in the
Department of Public Instruction school
counselor job description that has been
approved by the State Board of Education.
G.S. 115C-316.1 Duties of School Counselors
Direct services shall consist of:
(1) Delivering the school guidance curriculum through large group
guidance, interdisciplinary curriculum development, group
activities, and parent workshops.
(2) Guiding individual student planning through individual or small
group assistance and individual or small group advisement.
(3) Providing responsive services through consultation with
students, families, and staff; individual and small group
counseling; crisis counseling; referrals; and peer facilitation.
(4) Performing other student services listed in the Department of
Public Instruction school counselor job description that has been
approved by the State Board of Education.
Note that there is Not an “or” included in 1- 4
What does the data say?
“Every day our school counselors
help young people become the
people they’re meant to be and
achieve what they were put on
this earth to achieve. And that is
truly an awesome responsibility –and it’s also a tremendous
privilege. So today, on behalf of
myself and my husband and a grateful country,
I want to just say thank you…. And we look
forward to continuing our work together to
support all of you in the months and years
ahead.” ~ First Lady Michelle Obama
What does the data say?
Wakefield High School
2012-13
Wakefield
State
Nation
Participation
Rate (%)
72%
62%
50%
Average
Total SAT
Score
1,042
1,001
1,010
Cohort
Graduation
Rate*
85.3%
82.5%
~80%
2014 NC High School Counselor of the
Year and semi-finalist for National School
Counselor of the Year, Laura Inscoe
* NC graduation data 2012-13; national graduation data 2011-12
What does the data say?
Salem Middle School % at or above grade level
Grade 6
201213
Read’g Math
Grade 7
Read’g
Math
Grade 8
Read’g
Math
Salem 70.8% 65.0% 74.4% 70.7% 68.1% 63.3%
State
46.4% 38.9% 47.8% 38.5% 41.0% 34.2%
2014 NC Middle School Counselor of the
Year and semi-finalist for National School
Counselor of the Year, Kerry Bridges
What does the data say?
Middle Creek Elementary School
Grade 3
201213
Read’g Math
Grade 4
Read’g
Math
Grade 5
Read’g
Math
Middle
Creek
53.6% 64.7% 61.8% 78.3% 54.1% 63.9%
State
45.2% 46.8% 43.7% 47.6% 39.5% 47.7%
2014 NC Elementary School Counselor of the
Year and semi-finalist for National School
Counselor of the Year, Lisbeth Fillard
Where
are we
going?
Closing Points
• School Counseling program and
services should be based on your
students’ needs and data driven
How do
we close
the gap?
Where
are we
now?
• School Counseling program and services should be
comprehensive, affecting the success of all students
• School Counseling program and services should reflect
the goals and mission of your school’s School
Improvement Plan
• School Counselors should be meeting with their
administrators with an annual agreement
Closing Points
Where
are we
going?
How do
• School Counselors should be
we close
the gap?
collaborating with other school staff
in the planning and implementation of services
• School Counselors should be selecting at least a
couple of their activities for which they will document
and measure outcomes
• School Counselors should be able to answer the
question “How are students different as a result of the
school counseling program?”
• School Counselors need to be spending 80% of their
time providing services to or for students in order to
accomplish the standards on their evaluation rubric
Where
are we
now?
Resources
• NCDPI Student Support Evaluation information
Wiki Page at http://ncees.ncdpi.wikispaces.net/
• NCDPI School Counseling Web Pages
http://www.ncpublicschools.org/studentsupport/cou
nseling/ (sign up for the listserv)
• NCDPI School Counseling Wiki Page
http://schoolcounseling.ncdpi.wikispaces.net/
• NCDPI School Counseling Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/ncdpi.schoolcounseling
Resources - handout
For more information
Contact
Cynthia Floyd
NCDPI Consultant for School Counseling
/e/ Cynthia.Floyd@dpi.nc.gov
Phone (919) 807-3931