Workshop Series

The Indiana Gold Star School Counseling FOUR PART WORKSHOP SERIES is designed for schools who want the greatest amount of technical support using best practices in professional development. Accepted teams will attend four one-day workshops held approximately eight weeks apart. At each workshop, participants will prepare to facilitate two of eight meetings with a local School Counseling 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.

Workshop facilitators will model presentations and have participants practice activities they will later conduct with the Advisory Council. Between training sessions, teams will facilitate two meetings with their Advisory Council and prepare documents to be included in their School Counseling Program Portfolio. At the next training session, teams will share their progress with other schools and receive feedback enabling them to fine-tune their efforts.

At the end of school year, teams should be ready to submit their School Counseling Program Portfolio for review by the Department of Education for the Indiana Gold Star School Counseling designation.

Workshop Series Meeting Dates

Oct 1, 2003

Dec 10, 2003

Feb 18, 2004

Apr 19, 2004

Preparing for

Advisory Council

Meetings 1 and 2

Preparing for

Advisory Council

Meetings 3 and 4

Preparing for

Advisory Council

Meetings 5 and 6

Preparing for

Advisory Council

Meeting 7 and 8

Step 1: Create your Advisory Council

Step 2: Understand the Implementation Process (diagram)

Step 3: Hold Eight Advisory Council Meetings

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:

At each training session of the FOUR-PART WORKSHOP SERIES, schools will prepare for the next two meetings of the School Counseling Advisory Council. In the tables 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.

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 Time-Use Log TIme-Use Log Sample Time-Use Analysis	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 - DATA-BASED GOAL SETTING
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 to be impacted by the school counseling program	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 the following charts: a. Achievement Data Chart b. Additional Data for HS Chart c. Student Choice Data Chart d. SIP - Achievement Data Goals e. SIP - Student Choice Goals 2. Send mailing to the Advisory Council prior to the meeting (see mailing contents in column to the right) Activity Plan Guide - Preparing for Meeting 3 Agenda with Facilitator Notes	MAILING CONTENTS 1. Cover Letter 2. Student Achievement Data 3. Additional Data for HS 4. Achievement Data Analysis 5. Student Choice Data 6. Student Choice Data Analysis MEETING HANDOUTS 1. Agenda 2. Session 3 Power Point 2. Vision Statement 4. SIP - Achievement Goals 5. SIP - Student Choice Goals	POSTERS 1. Achievement Data Analysis 2. Achievement Data Instagraph 3. Student Choice Data Analysis 4. Student Data Instagraph TOOLS 1. Instructions for Achievement Goals 2. Instructions for Student Choice Goals COVERS 1. Pre-Session 3 Mailing 2. Session 3 Handouts 2. Session 3 Steering Team
STEERING TEAM FOLLOW-UP TO MEETING THREE: 1. Create a. School Counseling Program - Student Achievement Goals b. School Counseling Program - Student Choice Goals 2. Rubric

MEETING 4 - GUIDANCE INDICATORS
OBJECTIVES	BEFORE THIS MEETING	HANDOUTS	ADDITIONAL TOOLS
PARTICIPANTS WILL . . . 1. Identify guidance indicators that support the school's achievement and student choice goals. PRODUCTS 1. Guidance Indicators Priority Instagraph	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. Make copies of a. Student achievement goals b. Student choice goals c. All handouts 2. Make instagraph posters Activity Planning Guide - Preparing for Meeting 4 Agenda with Facilitator Notes	1. Agenda 2. Guidance Indicators PP 3. Indiana Universal Student Standards for Guidance 4. Advantages of Standards-Based School Counseling	POSTERS 1. Instagraph K-2 2. Instagraph 3-5 3. Instagraph 6-8 4. Instagraph 9-12 5. Instagraph Template TOOLS 1. Writing Guidance Indicators PP COVERS 1. Session 4 Handouts 2. Session 4 Steering Team
STEERING TEAM FOLLOW-UP TO MEETING THREE: 1. Create a. Guidance Indicator List b. Guidance Needs: Guidance Needs Survey Guidance Needs Results c. Counseling Needs: Elementary Student Survey Secondary Student Survey Elementary Teacher Survey Secondary Teacher Survey Counseling Needs Results Elementary Counseling Needs Results Secondary Counseling Needs Results 2. Rubric

MEETING 5 - STUDENT NEEDS & PROGRAM BALANCE
OBJECTIVES	BEFORE THIS MEETING	HANDOUTS	ADDITIONAL TOOLS
PARTICIPANTS WILL . . . 1. Prioritize student guidance needs 2. Prioritize student counseling needs 3. Determine the locally appropriate school counseling program balance PRODUCTS 1. School Counseling Program Balance 2. High Priority - Guidance Indicators 3. High Priority - Personal/Social Concerns	FOLLOW-UP FROM LAST MEETING 1. Create List of Local Guidance Indicators 2. Prepare and administer "Guidance Needs Survey" to get baseline data 3. Prepare and administer "Counseling Needs Survey" to get baseline data PREPARATION FOR THIS MEETING 1. Conduct Guidance Needs Survey and Prepare "Student Guidance Needs" handout 2 Conduct Counseling Needs Survey and prepare "Counseling Needs Report" handout FACILITATOR NOTES ACTIVITY PLANNING GUIDE	1. Agenda 2. Gold Star Process Schematic 3. Guidance Indicator List GUIDANCE 4. Guidance Priorities PP 5. Guidance Needs - Results 6. Guidance Needs - Analysis 7. Priority Guidance Instagraph COUNSELING 8. Counseling Priorities - PP 9. Counseling Needs - Results Elementary Secondary 10. Kids Count Data Chart 11. Counseling Needs Analysis Elementary Secondary ADDITIONAL COMPONENTS 12. Advocacy, Management, Non-Program PP PROGRAM BALANCE WORKSHEET 13. Program Balance PP 14. Program Balance Worksheet	SURVEYS 1. Guidance Needs 2. Counseling Needs: Elementary Student Secondary Student Elementary Teacher Secondary Teacher INTRO TO SESSION 5 Intro - Session 5 PP DATA FOR KIDS COUNT DATA CHART Indiana Youth Institute POSTERS 1. High Priority Guidance Instagraph 2. High Priority Concerns Instagraph Elementary Secondary 3. Program Balance Instagraph a. Guidance b. Counseling c. Advocacy d. Management e. Non-Program
STEERING TEAM FOLLOW-UP TO MEETING THREE: 1. Create a. School Counseling Program Balance b. High Priority - Guidance Indicators c. High Priority - Personal/Social Concerns 2. Rubric for Session 5

MEETING 6 - BARRIERS & TARGETS

OBJECTIVES

BEFORE THIS MEETING

HANDOUTS

ADDITIONAL TOOLS

PARTICIPANTS WILL . . .

Considering the program balance, high priority guidance indicators, and high priority personal-social concerns

1. Identify barriers to school counseling that they would like to remove or reduce for next school year.

2. Identify targets (goals) and strategies they will implement to remove or reduce the barriers.

3. Identify guidance indicator targets that they will address through guidance lessons next school year.

4. Identify the personal-social concern targets they will address through counseling interventions during next school year.

PRODUCTS

1. Framework Improvement Plan

2. Target Guidance Indicators

3. Target Personal-Social Concerns

FOLLOW-UP FROM LAST MEETING

1. Create

a. School Counseling Program Balance

b. High Priority - Guidance Indicators

c. High Priority - Personal/Social Concerns

PREPARATION FOR THIS MEETING

1. Fill in current data on Framework Improvement Plan

FACILITATOR NOTES

ACTIVITY PLANNING GUIDE

1. Agenda

2. Barriers & Targets PP

WHERE WE'RE HEADED:

2. Program Balance (from mtg 5)

3. High Priority - Guidance Indicators

4. High Priority - Personal/Social Concerns

ADDRESSING THE BARRIERS:

5. Framework Improvement Plan

6. Barrier Analysis Chart

SURVEYS:

1. School Counseling Perceptions Survey - Students

2. School Counseling Perceptions - Teachers

INSTAGRAPHS:

3. Guidance Indicator Targets - Instagraph

4. Personal/Social Concerns Targets - Instagraph

MEETING 7 - GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING ACTIVITIES

OBJECTIVES

BEFORE THIS MEETING

HANDOUTS

ADDITIONAL TOOLS

PARTICIPANTS WILL . . .

1. Identify activities that will help students a) master the target guidance indicators, and b) overcome personal-social problems that are interfering with learning.

2. To design a school counseling program that falls within the targeted time-use constraints.

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 Framework Improvement Plan (especially the Target Time-Use Percentages)

2. Prepare Target Guidance Indicators

3. Prepare Target Personal-Social Concerns

PREPARATION FOR THIS MEETING

1. Prepare School Counseling Activity Charts (5) by adding current activities

2. (optional) Conduct a guidance and counseling activity survey to enable you to better complete the above activity charts.

FACILITATOR NOTES

SESSION 7 HANDOUTS

1. Cover

1. Agenda

2. Session 7 Power Point

3. Guidance Activity Chart

4. Counseling Activity Chart

5. Advocacy Activity Chart

6. Management Activity Chart

7. Non-Program Activity Chart

SHOPPING FOR SCHOOL COUNSELING ACTIVITIES

Cover

Table of Contents

Activities

SESSION 7 STEERING TEAM TRAINING MATERIALS

1. Cover

2. Training Session 4 Agenda

4. Gold Star Four-Part Training Model Revisions

5. School Counseling Activity Instagraph

6. Guidance Activity Survey (optional)

7. Session 7 and 8 Activity Guide

8. Gold Star Evaluation

POSTERS

1. Make posters of your School Counseling Activity Charts.

2. Make posters of the School Counseling Instagraph

MEETING 2 - VISION
OBJECTIVES	BEFORE THIS MEETING	HANDOUTS	ADDITIONAL TOOLS
PARTICIPANTS WILL . . . 1. Consider external reasons for raising student achievement (labor market trends) 2. Consider internal reasons for raising student achievement (core convictions) 3. Create a common vision for student success PRODUCTS 1. Vision for Student Success Brainstorm	PREP FOR MEETING 2 1. Make poster(s) 2. Assemble handout packets Activity Planning Guide - Preparing for Meeting 2 Agenda with Facilitator Notes	FROM MEETING 1 1. School Counseling Benefits Statement 2. Group Norms Statement MEETING 2 HANDOUTS 1. Agenda 2. Labor Market Trends - PP 3. Core Convictions - PP 4. Core Convictions - Douglas Academy 5. Local Core Convictions 6. Vision for Success - PP	POSTERS 1. Vision Statement Brainstorm SAMPLES 1. Vision Statement Samples - High School - Middle Level - Elementary School
STEERING TEAM FOLLOW-UP TO MEETING TWO: 1. Create a. Vision Statement for Student Success 2. Rubric