New Mexico Comprehensive School Counseling Program Guide

Accountability
Results Report | Counselor Performance Evaluation | Program Audit

Accountability and evaluation of the school counseling program are necessities. It is essential that school counselors and the school counseling program answer the question “How are students different as a result of the school counseling program?” School counselors must demonstrate the effectiveness of their programs in measurable terms. School counselors must collect and use data that support and link the school counseling programs to students' academic success.

Results Report

Results reports ensure programs are carried out, analyzed for effectiveness, changed and further improved as needed. Student results data are collected for activities outlined in the action plans. The goal is to show change in student behavior and learning. The school counseling program supports every student's academic achievement. The program seeks to assist every student in the mastery of the competencies designed to foster academic, career and personal/social development. Through the advocacy and leadership of school counselors, the program facilitates the removal of barriers to learning. Results reports serve as a tool for:

• Ensuring the program was carried out as planned
• Ensuring every student was served
• Ensuring developmentally appropriate materials were used
• Documenting the program's process, perception and results data
• Documenting the program's immediate, intermediate, and long-range impact
• Analyzing the program effectiveness
• Sharing program successes
• Improving programs
• Advocating for systemic change in the school system

School counselors should use three types of reports to document program results: guidance curriculum results , closing-the-gap results and impact-over-time results . School counselors must show how they are involved in improving academic achievement for all students and how they are contributing to No Child Left Behind mandates. Results reports can serve these purposes.

Guidance Curriculum Results Reports document the results of the classroom guidance lessons delivered to all students. Data collection occurs both before and after the counseling activity or process. The data indicate what worked, what didn't and clarify what needs to be changed or improved. (Appendix AS-2)

• The results report for school counseling curriculum may include the following:
• The grade level served
• Lesson content areas
• Curriculum or materials used
• Process data such as the number of school counseling lessons delivered and in what subject area
• Process data such as the number of students served
• Short term perception data such as pre-post tests of knowledge gained
• Intermediate and long term results such as the impact on behavior, attendance or achievement
• The implications of the results on the counseling program

Curriculum Results Report (Microsoft Excel) - American School Counselor Association (2004). The ASCA National Model Workbook . Alexandria, VA: Author.

Closing-the-Gap Results Plan documents the results of the small group lessons delivered to the students who were identified as needing extra help in specific areas.

Closing the Gap Report (Microsoft Excel) - American School Counselor Association (2004). The ASCA National Model Workbook . Alexandria, VA: Author.

Results Report; Impact Over Time shows the difference in some areas over a three- to five- year period. (Appendix AS-6) This allows a review of data trends in all domain areas: academic, career, personal/social. It gives the counseling staff a tool to review overall student progress and provides a review of the comprehensive program for the site or the district. Using the school-wide results report gives the counselors and administrators the big picture and serves as a catalyst for system change.

Documenting baseline data prior to programmatic restructuring provides necessary information for data based decision making. Each year data are charted indicating growth or change in the areas of concern. The data are analyzed in relation to the progress made toward the school-wide mission and achievement goals. Accountability charts are easy to read and easy to use to convey what has changed over time.

• The impact-over-time form minimally contains the following:
• Student demographics: enrollment date, gender, ethnicity, grade levels and languages
• Academic achievement: Standardized or Standards-based tests, grade point average, dropout rates, graduation rates
• Career development: Students enrolled in work experience, job shadowing
• Personal/social development: Climate survey results, substance use statistics, attendance data, suspension and expulsion data
• Parents or guardian involvement

Results Report: Impact Over Time (Microsoft Excel) - American School Counselor Association (2004). The ASCA National Model Workbook . Alexandria, VA: Author.

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