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School Counseling

A school counseling program is an articulated, sequential kindergarten-through-grade 12 program that is comprehensive in scope, preventative in design, developmental in nature, driven by data, and integral to the school district’s curricula and instructional program. The program must be implemented by a qualified guidance counselor, appropriately licensed by the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners. This site provides information to guide and assist school counselors, administrators, teachers and parents in the implementation of a comprehensive and accountable K-12 school counseling program. Ultimately, by using these resources, these stakeholders will support all students in becoming college-, career- and citizen-ready.

A Reform Agenda for World-Class Schools

This presentation was delivered by Director Jason Glass at the annual Iowa School Counselors Convention on November 6, 2012.

Garfield Elementary will be honored by the American School Counselor Association

Garfield Elementary School will receive the Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) designation during a special ceremony at the American School Counselor Association’s annual conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On July 2, 2013, Garfield Elementary will be honored for establishing an outstanding school counseling program.  School counselor, Candy Reed, will be accepting the award on behalf of the school.

The RAMP designation, awarded to schools whose counseling programs align with the criteria set in the ASCA National Model, recognizes schools that are committed to delivering a comprehensive, data-driven school counseling program and creating an exemplary educational environment. More than 450 schools have received the RAMP designation since the program’s inception.

Richard Wong, ASCA’s executive director, said this year’s recipients are to be commended for their dedication to serving all students and demonstrating how effective school counseling programs can make a difference in students’ lives. “This year’s RAMP honorees have shown their commitment to students and the school counseling profession,” said Wong. “This designation distinguishes these schools and encourages school counselors nationwide to continue to strive for success.”

icon School Counselor Administrative Rules

icon DE, AEA and Higher Education School Counseling Contacts (2012-12-28)

icon Characteristics of Iowa Full-Time Public School Guidance Counselors, 2000-2001, 2010-2011, and 2011-2012

icon Iowa School Counseling Current Landscape Presentation (2009-10-08) - An overview of the status of school counseling in Iowa and the context in which they work.

icon Iowa School Counseling Programs Brochure (2009-04-17) - The brochure designed by members of the Iowa school counseling task force. The brochure illustrates the role and impact of school counseling programs based on the Iowa School Counseling Framework and ASCA model. Space is provided on back page to insert local school district information.

Student Curriculum (8th Grade) Plan- This webpage gives information and details about the Required State Components of the Student Curriculum (8th Grade) Plan.

 

Iowa School Counseling Framework

icon ASCA National Model, Third Edition The Revisions - This PowerPoint presentation was delivered by Carol Kaffenberger at the School Counseling Summit on June 21, 2012. It crosswalks the changes in the revised model and highlights four themes of advocacy, leadership, collaboration and systemic change. The accountability section has been enhanced.

icon ASCA Model Executive Summary - 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. “The ASCA National Model: A Framework for School Counseling Programs” outlines the components of a comprehensive school counseling program.

icon Changes in the Third Edition of the ASCA National Model - This document gives a brief overview of the changes in the 3rd edition. Your AEA school counseling consultant has a copy of the revised model and trainings are being offered statewide on how to infuse these revisions.

icon School Counseling Framework Model 2012

icon Iowa School Counseling Framework - The Iowa School Counseling Framework, based on the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model, provides a framework for implementing a comprehensive and accountable school counseling program that is considered “best practice” for the profession. “School counseling program” means an articulated, sequential K-12 program that is comprehensive in scope, preventive in design, developmental in nature, driven by data and integral to the school district’s curricula and instructional program. The Iowa School Counseling Framework is written to reflect a comprehensive approach to program foundation, delivery, management and accountability. The framework provides a system that encourages and promotes each student’s academic, career and personal/social development in preparation for the challenges of the 21st century.

Implementing Iowa School Counseling Framework Elements

Video: Introduction to the Iowa School Counseling Framework Elements - Teresa Keefe Omeara introduces the elements of the Iowa School Counseling Framework. "A school counseling program is..."

Teresa Keefe Omeara is the K-6 elementary school counselor at North Tama Schools. She loves the opportunity to work closely with students and families of a small, rural community. She served as ISCA’s President and Elementary Vice President and is the recipient of the Iowa Governor’s Award for Outstanding Service To Children.

Video: Foundation of the Iowa School Counseling Framework - Richard Jackson talks about building a solid foundation; the "WHAT" of the school counseling program.

Richard Jackson is a graduate student in University of Northern Iowa’s School Counseling Program.

icon Foundation Elements

icon Foundation Standards and Benchmarks

icon Belief and Philosophy Worksheet

icon Beliefs and Mission Worksheet

icon Sample Mission Statements

icon School Counseling Program Audit

Video: Delivery System of the Iowa School Counseling Framework - Tim Lambertsen discusses the delivery system; the "HOW" of the implementation process.

Tim Lambertsen is a school counselor at Waukee High School. He is committed to supporting all students through the implementation of a comprehensive K-12 school counseling program. He served as ISCA’s High School Vice President Elect.

icon Delivery in the School Counseling Program

icon Required State Components Contained Within the Guideways

icon Examples of Interdependent Competencies of the Iowa School Counseling Framework

icon ASCA Curriculum Crosswalking Tool

icon Curriculum Alignment Worksheet - Career Domain

icon Curriculum Alignment Worksheet - Academic Domain

icon Curriculum Alignment Worksheet - Personal Social Domain

icon Iowa Core Crosswalk

icon ASCA Crosswork with I Have A Plan Iowa - This document shows how features of the IHAPI aligns with the ASCA career development standards. The ASCA career development standards align with the Iowa School Counseling Framework career standards.

icon System Support Planning Chart

icon School Counseling Curriculum Delivery Time Log and Instructions - This program is an easy way to log school counselor activities and identify percentages of time spent in each of the areas.

icon ASCA Recommendations for Time Allocation

icon Elementary School Counselor Time Form

icon Time and Task Analysis Form

Video: Management System of the Iowa School Counseling Framework - Careyanne Wood explains the management system, the "WHEN, WHY, BY WHOM" of the implementation process.

Careyanne Wood is the K-12 school counselor at Preston Community Schools and strong advocate for K-12 solo school counselors who work hard to offer a comprehensive program to all K-12 students. She is a member of the Iowa School Counseling Transformational Design team.

icon Iowa School Counseling SMART Goal Action Plan

icon Managing the School Counseling Program

icon Management System - Use of Data

icon Elementary School Counselor Management Agreement

icon Secondary School Counselor Management Agreement

icon Closing the Gap Action Plan

icon School Counselor Strategic Improvement Plan

icon Sample Data Projects (Management and Accountability)

Video: Accountability System of the Iowa School Counseling Framework - Shelley Klaas shares the accountability system. "How are students different as a result of the school counseling program?"

Shelley Klaas works as the elementary school counselor at Neil Armstrong Elementary for Bettendorf Community Schools. She is the K-12 Curriculum Director for the K-12 school counseling program. Shelley is 2012 ASCA School Counselor of the Year finalist.

icon Accountability in the School Counseling Program 

icon Making Data Work Presentation - from the March 30, 2012 conference

icon Making Data Work Training Handout - from the March 30, 2012 conference

icon Closing the Gap Results Report

icon Results Reports: Impact Over Time

icon Sample Data Projects (Management and Accountability)

 

Preparing for an Iowa Department of Education Site Visit

With the reinstatement of school counselors in the Iowa Code with the adoption of administrative rules in July of 2007, Iowa school counselors are required to demonstrate their school district has an articulated, K-12 comprehensive school counseling program. The following training materials will provide both background information on the Department's comprehensive site visit process and examples of school counseling artifacts that meet requirements.

icon Site Visit Presentation for School Counselors

icon Site Visit Checklist With School Counselor Artifact Suggestions

 

Professional School Counseling Standards & Competencies

icon Ethical Standards for School Counselors in English

icon Ethical Standards for School Counselors in Spanish

icon School Counselor Competencies

 

School Counselor Skills

icon Are You Ready for the ASCA National Model? 

icon Iowa School Counseling Mission Statement

icon Challenging the Myths: Rethinking the Role of School Counselors - This document was created by Education Trust’s National Organization for Transforming School Counseling and challenges school counselors to transform their school counseling programs to ensure equitable access and opportunities for all students.

 

Leadership

icon Own the Turf Presentation - This presentation was created by National Organization School Counselor Advocacy which is supported by the College Board Policy and Advocacy Center. It promotes the importance of school counselors as leaders in school reform, student achievement, and college readiness.

icon A Closer Look at the Principal-Counselor Relationship

 

Advocacy

Video: The Whole Child and the School Counselor - Jan Kuhl, Clare Struck and Michelle Bruty address the role of the school counselor in supporting the whole child.

Jan Kuhl is a consultant at the Iowa Department of Education, working in the areas of school counseling and career education. She testified before the U.S. Senate HELP Committee on the impact elementary school counselors have on teh development of the whole child.

Clare Struk is the elementary school counselor at Malcolm Price Laboratory School and an adjunct instructor for the School Counseling Practicum experience at the University of Northern Iowa. She testified for the Whole Child Initiative at a 2009 U.S. Senate hearing for the reauthorization of ESEA.

Michelle Bruty is the school counselor for Bettendorf Community Schools. She serves on the Iowa School Conseling Transformational Design Team and is a National Board Certified Teacher in the area of school counseling.

icon Six Challenges for School Counseling

icon School Counselor Strategic Planning Tool

 

Collaboration

icon Finding A Way: Practical Examples of How an Effective Principal Counselor Relationship Can Lead to Success for All Students - A result of a collaborative effort of the College Board, ASCA and NASSP, this report presents 10 characteristics of an effective principal-counselor relationship.

 

Systemic Change

icon Inspiration & Innovation: Ten Effective Counseling Practices - The best practices in college counseling are highlighted in the booklet and were condensed from research commissioned by the College Board for the National Center for School Counseling Outcome Research.

 

College, Career & Citizenship Readiness

Video: College, Career and Citizenship Ready - Mike Danilson talks about college, career and citizenship readiness. "Owning the Turf"

Mike Danilson is in his eighth year working as Gilbert's middle school counselor. His is currently ISCA's Middle School Vice President and has served on the Iowa School Counseling Transformational Design team. He is committed to working to ensure Iowa students graduate college, career and citizenship ready.

icon College and Career Readiness Tool to Address Equity Gap

icon Creating a College-Going Culture

icon Eight Components of College and Career Readiness Counseling

 icon Own the Turf Presentation

icon School Counselors and Principals Collaborating to Ensure College and Career Readiness

icon One Year Out: Survey among the High School Class of 2010

icon Building a Grad Nation 

 

Resources

Video: Crisis Management - Kathie Barry discusses supporting children, families and educators in times of crisis.

Kathie Barry is an adjunct professor at the University of Northern Iowa and was the school counselor at Aplington-Parkersburg Community School District. Her advocacy for school counselors led to the American Red Cross using school counselors when working with communities in crisis.

icon Glossary for School Counseling Program (2012-12-28)

icon DE, AEA and Higher Education School Counseling Contacts (2012-12-28)

icon School Counseling Websites

icon Protecting Students, Protecting Yourself - Carol Greta, former legal counsel for the Iowa Department of Education, covers a range of challenging, yet common, legal issues that school counselors and administrators must address.

icon Research and Evidence Based Curricula for School Counseling