The Indiana Gold Star School Counseling ONLINE COURSE is designed for schools who cannot attend professional development workshops but want to implement the Gold Star School Counseling model using a local Advisory Council.  The advantage of using an Advisory Council in designing your school counseling program is that the program will be based on the perspectives of many different people instead of only the perspectives of the school counselors.  Later, as you implement your program, your Advisory Council members are likely to become strong advocates for your program since they helped design it.

STEP ONE:  CREATE YOUR ADVISORY COUNCIL

Schools should first create a School Counseling Advisory Council consisting of 20-30 representatives of stakeholder groups that exist in their school and community.  Be sure to include counselors, teachers, students, parents, business representatives, and community representatives on your Advisory Council.  Counselors may wish to use the Advisory Counsel Brainstorm Chart to help them think about who to invite to serve on their Advisory Council.  Talking points and a follow-up letter sample to use when making your initial contact with  potential Advisory Council members are also available.

To help sustain your Advisory Council, it is important that all participants feel their participation was important.  Some schools convey this by printing minutes that include participant comments and acknowledge the contributions of various council members.  School counselors can use group facilitation skills to ensure that all group participants have a chance to talk and that each member feels heard and  understood.  Some schools send each participant a follow-up letter (sample) to thank each council member for their participation and let them know that their contribution was important.

STEP ONE:  UNDERSTAND THE IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS

The Gold Star School Counseling implementation process outlined here is based on Vision-to-Action, a systemic school improvement process developed by the American Student Achievement Institute.  Vision-to-Action is not a "one-size fits all" improvement process.  Rather, it is a "discovery" process through which schools discover the guidance and counseling activities that are right for their students, school, and community.  

Data-Driven Design Process:  The design of the Gold Star school counseling program is based on carefully analyzed local data that reflects 1) student mastery of defined guidance indicators, and 2) student assistance needs.  

Shared Implementation:  The Gold Star school counseling program is based on the belief that guiding the community's young people is a school and community responsibility.  Counselors, teachers, parents, and community members join forces to implement the guidance and counseling services needed by the community's young people.  

Accountability:  The Gold Star school counseling program is accountable for 1) student mastery of targeted guidance indicators, 2) improvements in targeted student choices, and 3) improvements in targeted student achievement fields as defined in the school improvement plan written for Public Law 221 (in conjunction with all other school initiatives).

STEP THREE:  HOLD EIGHT ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETINGS:

The Gold Star ONLINE COURSE is intended to be self paced.  There are eight Advisory Council meetings.  Most schools will hold one meeting a month and complete the process in a school year.  Others may wish to take a shorter or longer time period.  It is suggested that you schedule all eight Advisory Council meetings before you begin to help keep you on task.

In the table below, you will find all of the materials you need to plan and implement each of the Advisory Council meetings.  

1.  Objectives:            This section tells what you are trying to accomplish during the meeting and what products you should have at the end of the meeting.

2.  Meeting Prep:       This section tells you what needs to be done prior to the meeting.  There are three sections:  a) Tells you what tasks need to be completed prior to the meeting, b) gives you a step-by-step planning guide for the meeting, and c) gives you a copy of the agenda with facilitator notes.  In some cases, preparation activities for future meetings may be indicated.

3.  Handouts:              This section gives you all of the handouts you'll need for your meeting.  Some of the handouts may need to be customized for your school so look at each carefully.

4.  Resources:             These are materials that you won't pass out at your meeting but will either a) help you prepare for the meeting, or b) you'll use in a presentation at the meeting.  For posters, simply take the 81/2 x 11 copy to a printer and have them make it into a poster.  The cost is minimal.

5.  Follow-Up              In this section, you'll find a list of things that need to be done following the meeting.  In many cases, this involves using input from an Advisory Council brainstorm to develop a document.

Advisory Council Meeting 1

Introduction

Advisory Council Meeting 5

Program Balance

Advisory Council Meeting 2

Vision

Advisory Council Meeting 6

Barriers

Advisory Council Meeting 3

Data

Advisory Council Meeting 7

Activities

Advisory Council Meeting 4

Guidance Indicators

Advisory Council Meeting 8

Celebration

MEETING 1 - INTRODUCTION

OBJECTIVES

MEETING PREP

HANDOUTS

TOOLS

PARTICIPANTS WILL . . .

1.  Become familiar with the Indiana Gold Star School Counseling initiative

2.  Develop an understanding of the benefits of school counseling

3.  Establish group norms

PRODUCTS

1.  Group norms list

2.  School counseling benefits brainstorm

TASKS

1.  Create an Advisory Council Roster

2.  Create Future Meeting Dates Handout

3.  Make poster(s)

3.  Assemble handout packets

Activity Planning Guide - Preparing for Meeting 1

Agenda with Facilitator Notes

PREP FOR MEETING 5

     PAPER (MS Word)

          Time-Use Log

          Time-Use Log Sample

          Time-Use Analysis

     ELECTRONIC (MS Excel)

          Time-Use Log

          Time-Use Log Sample

          Developed by Andrew Dolbin-MacNab

          Pleasant Hill ES, Crawfordsville, IN

MEETING 1 HANDOUTS

1.  Agenda

2.  Advisory Council Roster

3.  Gold Star School Counseling Into PP

4.  Gold Star Implementation Process PP

4.  Group Norms

6.  School Counseling Benefits PP

7.  Future Meeting Dates

POSTERS

1.  School Counseling Benefits Brainstorm

SAMPLES

1.  School Counseling Benefits - Sample

STEERING TEAM FOLLOW-UP TO MEETING ONE:

1.  Create

     a.  Group Norms Statement

     b.  School Counseling Benefits Statement

2.  Rubric

MEETING 3 - ACHIEVEMENT & CHOICE DATA

OBJECTIVES

BEFORE THIS MEETING

HANDOUTS

ADDITIONAL TOOLS

PARTICIPANTS WILL . . .

1.  Analyze student achievement data (including current data and goals established in the School Improvement Plan)

2.  Analyze student choice data (including current data and goals established in the School Improvement Plan)

PRODUCTS

1.  Identification of achievement and/or choice goals not expressed in the School Improvement Plan

FOLLOW-UP FROM LAST MEETING

1.  Create School Counseling Vision Statement

2.  Send draft of Counseling Vision Statement to Advisory Council members for input

3.  Revise vision statement as necessary

PREPARATION FOR THIS MEETING

1.  Prepare Achievement Data Chart (with current data)

2.  Prepare Student Choice Data Chart   (with current data)

FACILITATOR NOTES

1.  Agenda

2.  Vision Statement

3.  Achievement Data Chart

4.  Student Choice Data Chart

MEETING 4 - GUIDANCE INDICATORS

Facilitator Notes

OBJECTIVES

BEFORE THIS MEETING

HANDOUTS

ADDITIONAL TOOLS

PARTICIPANTS WILL . . .

1.  Identify guidance standards and indicators that support the school's achievement and student choice goals.

PRODUCTS

1.  Guidance Indicators List

2.  Target Indicators List

FOLLOW-UP FROM LAST MEETING

1.  Add Targets to Data Charts

PREPARATION FOR THIS MEETING

FACILITATOR NOTES

1.  Agenda

2.  Indiana Student Standards for Guidance DRAFT 10.4

1. Local Indicator Instagraph

MEETING 5 - SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAM BALANCE

Facilitator Notes

OBJECTIVES

BEFORE THIS MEETING

HANDOUTS

ADDITIONAL TOOLS

PARTICIPANTS WILL . . .

1.  Analyze current mastery of target guidance indicators

2.  Analyze current student assistance needs

3.  Determine the locally appropriate balance between guidance and counseling

PRODUCTS

1.  Counselor Time-Use Analysis - Addition of Target Time-Use

FOLLOW-UP FROM LAST MEETING

1.  Create List of Local Guidance Indicators with target indicators noted

2.  Prepare and administer "Student Guidance Survey" to get baseline indicator data

2.  Prepare Guidance Survey Data Chart (including baseline data)

PREPARATION FOR THIS MEETING

1.  Administer "Student Assistance Survey" 

2.  Prepare Student Assistance Survey Data Chart

FACILITATOR NOTES

1.  Agenda

2.  Local Guidance Indicator List

3.  Student Guidance Survey Data Chart

4.  Student Assistance Data Chart

1.  Student Survey - Mastery of Target Indicators

2.  Student Survey - Assistance Needs

MEETING 6 - BARRIERS

Facilitator Notes

OBJECTIVES

BEFORE THIS MEETING

HANDOUTS

ADDITIONAL TOOLS

PARTICIPANTS WILL . . .

1.  Analyze current:

     a.  counselor time-use

     b.  counselor to student ratio

     c.  facilitators of guidance and counseling activities

     d.  perceptions of school counseling

     e.  resources

     f.   professional development

2.  Develop a System Improvement Plan

PRODUCTS

1.  Barrier Elimination Plan

FOLLOW-UP FROM LAST MEETING

PREPARATION FOR THIS MEETING

1.  Curriculum Map:  Survey teachers, counselors, and community.   For target indicators:

     a. Already addressing indicators?

     b. Would they be willing to?

2.  Conduct Counselor Time-Use Study

3.  Prepare Time-Use Summary Chart

FACILITATOR NOTES

1.  Agenda

2.  Program Improvement Targets

3.  Framework Improvement Targets

MEETING 7 - GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING ACTIVITIES

Facilitator Notes

OBJECTIVES

BEFORE THIS MEETING

HANDOUTS

ADDITIONAL TOOLS

PARTICIPANTS WILL . . .

1.  Consider a variety of multiple-lesson guidance programs

2.  Consider a variety of student assistance interventions

2.  Consider a student assistance team approach

3.  Determine what activities will be included in the school counseling program:

     a.  guidance programs

     b.  counseling interventions

     c.  student assistance team

PRODUCTS

1.  Guidance Activity Chart

2.  Counseling Activity Chart

3.  Advocacy Activity Chart

4.  Management Activity Chart

5.  Non-Program Activity Chart

FOLLOW-UP FROM LAST MEETING

1.  Prepare Program Improvement Target Chart

2.  Prepare School Counseling Activity Charts (5)

PREPARATION FOR THIS MEETING

FACILITATOR NOTES

1.  Agenda

2.  Program Improvement Targets (with targets added)

3.  Best Practices PP

4.  Best Practices Parking Lot

5.  School Counseling Activity Charts

     - Counseling

     - Guidance

     - Advocacy

     - Management

     - Non-Program

MEETING 8 (optional) - MAY

Facilitator Notes

OBJECTIVES

BEFORE THIS MEETING

HANDOUTS

ADDITIONAL TOOLS

PARTICIPANTS WILL . . .

1.  Celebrate the progress they have made in establishing a vision-based, data-driven, and accountable school counseling program.

2.  Set meeting dates for the coming school year

PRODUCTS

1.  Meeting Calendar for Coming School Year

FOLLOW-UP FROM MEETING 4

1.  Prepare School Counseling Activity Charts (with info added)

PREPARATION

1.  Plan a celebration, perhaps over a pitch-in dinner.  Present each of the Advisory Council members with a certificate or token of your appreciation.  Feel good about all you've accomplished!

2.  Prepare a list of meeting dates for next school year.

1.   Meeting Dates for Next Year (2)

      First Semester -

      Second Semester -

      Agenda for Future Meetings:

      "In-Flight" Evaluation & Adjustment

        a.  Feedback on past activities

        b.  Input on future activities

        c.  General discussion

STEERING TEAM FOLLOW UP

Facilitator Notes

OBJECTIVES

TASKS

STEERING TEAM  WILL COMPLETE:

LESSON PLANS

1.  Guidance lesson plans

SELF STUDIES

1.  School Counselor Effectiveness Self-Study

2.  Program Design Self Study

PRODUCTS

1.  Barrier Elimination Plan (Mtg 6)

2.  Activity Plans (Mtg 7)

3.  Evaluation Plan (Mtg. 3)

2.  Master Calendar

3.  Budget Proposal

4.  Professional Development Plan

LESSON PLANS

1.  Guidance lesson plans

SELF STUDIES

1.  School Counselor Effectiveness Self-Study

2.  Program Design Self Study

PLANNING

1.  Barrier Elimination Plan (Mtg 6)

2.  Activity Plan (Mtg 7)

3.  Evaluation Plan (Mtg 3)

4.  Professional Development Plan

5.  Budget Proposal

6.  Master Calendar

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