The article by
Dahir and Stone was interesting and it continued the idea that school
counselors will need to use data to address equity within the school
environment. The article also talked
about the ASCA National Model and why it is important along with a
comprehensive school-counseling program.
They went on to discuss the first state to adopt the ASCA National Model,
which was Alabama, which to me was surprising that they were so ahead of the
game in this area.
The
Alabama Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance State Model was referred to as
the “State Plan” (Dahir & Stone, 2009).
The State Plan resides on three zones: school counseling and guidance
programs are based on specific student knowledge and skill content; school
counseling and guidance programs are outcome-based; and school counseling and
guidance programs are developmental and comprehensive in scope and sequence
(Dahir & Stone, 2009).
The
first part of the “State Plan” seems to be academic in nature and a school
counselor can collect data from students and staff to make sure this part of
their plan is continuing to grow that will also show effectiveness. The school counseling and guidance programs
seem to be classroom education and also data driven, because the program is
outcome-based, what is the end result of what you as the school counselor are
doing or what is the research of the program you developed and how is it
working. Lastly, this plan wants
measurable data that transfers from building to building and longitudinally so
that the effectiveness of this “State Plan” can be seen, measured and proven as
per the ASCA National Model.
We
as school counselors have heard about collecting data before, and some of us really
don’t like it, however, if it is between collecting data to prove that you are
doing your job and a good job and losing your job you should collect the data
if you love and are passionate about your job.
I love my job that I have right now, and I often have to collect data on
behaviors along with keeping short-handed notes for progress reports. The data shows whether or not the client is
meeting their goals and how often with percentages. This is valuable for my employer because this
determines the clients hours for their next evaluation or if medications need
to be changed. Children are constantly
changing and so are their family structures.
Other
states and school districts should be looking at this type of research so they
can benefit from it. Not just because
there will be a lot more people in the world with school counseling degrees
that are looking for a job but because the work of a school counselor is
important and life changing for some of the children, parents, teachers, and
community who they come into contact with.
Reference
Dahir, C. A., Burnham, J. J., & Stone, C. (2009).
Listen to the voices: School counselors and comprehensive school counseling
programs. Professional School Counseling, 12(3), 182-192.
doi:10.5330/PSC.n.2010-12.182
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