Below are the ways school counselors support the Iowa blueprint.

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1 Below are the ways school counselors support the Iowa blueprint. Page 3 The centerpiece of approach with the capacity to create world-class schools is a great teacher in every classroom and a great principal in every building School counselors work collaboratively with teachers and principals. Some schools have entire students support teams working together to ensure the learning of all. School counselors, librarians, nurses, psychologists, and other support service professionals are necessary for the achievement of Iowa s children. Teachers and administrators who are fully engaged in their day to day with students have little if any time/opportunity to do all that is necessary for student achievement. A great school counselor supports the success of a great teacher and great administrator School counselors abide by state standards for school counselors. All school counselors are licensed through Iowa Board of Educational examiners. Page 9 > Have all Iowa 11th-graders take a college entrance exam (such as ACT or SAT), with the state covering the cost. This measure gives Iowa comparable data to a number of other states, gives us a screen to see if our students are ready for college or a career, and gives every Iowa teenager one of the keys needed for higher education. Through classroom guidance lessons, parent presentations, and individual students planning meetings, school counselors educate parents and students with the knowledge, attitudes and skills they need to enroll in and take college entrance exams. School counselors at all levels teach test taking skills and strategies. School counselors assist students and parents in addressing the current financial barriers to taking SAT and ACT tests Counselors utilize the ACT and SAT data to assist students and parents in college and career selection and application planning. Advocating for underrepresented and first generation college bound youth, school counselors utilize the ACT and SAT data to help these students realize their goals. Being college and career-ready is critically important in a highly competitive global economy. School counselors: o Collaborate with administrators to advocate for rigorous and relevant courses o Create 4 year plans which are annually reviewed o Administering college entrance exams o Host career days/fairs o Link with community partnerships on job shadowing/work experience o Host college and financial aid night o Work with college admission representatives o Provide career exploration guidance curriculum K-12 Hatch, T. (2011). Page 1

2 o Analyze data on student success including graduate college eligibility rates, Create and administer pre/post tests to assess knowledge, attitudes and skills related to the guidance lesson content o Utilize Paws in Jobland for career awareness o School counselors teach financial planning and money management o School counselors analyzing AP enrollment and success o Link school and world of work teaching 21 st Century thinking and employability skills o Promote student aspirations Provide value-added measures for all districts, schools, grades, and educators. It is important to take into account student background characteristics (poverty, disability, language ability) and consider student growth when evaluating test results. School counselors advocate for students of all abilities and backgrounds and ensure equitable evaluation of test results to support success in reaching their full potential. School counselors collaborate with teachers, parents and the community or other outside services so students acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes they need to succeed to be college and career ready. > Takes into account that healthy and successful children are more than just test scores. We can measure student hope, engagement and well-being and make that part of our system. School counselors recognize that students are indeed, more than just test scores. School counselors teach social/emotional skills to every student using data to determine needs and target interventions towards students with greater need. School counselors teach life skills, coping skills, interpersonal skills, red ribbon week/personal safety, and community resources. School counselors analyze and evaluate Iowa youth behavior survey data and design curriculum and interventions based on local site needs School counselors coordinate the Olweus anti-bully prevention program, promote and support a safe school climate. [ For example: Garfield Elementary School in Davenport School District > Makes sure teachers and other educators have the supports they need to succeed. School counselors provide staff development for faculty School counselors connect teachers to various intervention resources within and outside the school. School counselors utilize staff culture surveys to inform practice School counselors provide classroom observations for behavioral interventions > Brings in other key indicators, such as graduation rates and attendance rates. School counselors support attendance [see graduation below] in K-12 by providing: o data driven intentional attendance intervention groups o attendance letters Hatch, T. (2011). Page 2

3 o parent contacts and working with families o teaching goal setting to students o supporting perfect attendance awards o linking families with social service agencies o teaching life skills to promote increase in attendance therefore school [For example: Bluff Elementary School, Clinton] Page 10 > Establish an Iowa Center for Literacy Education to act as a clearinghouse for best practices and research-based information This would link directly with the state s ongoing efforts around Response to Intervention. The state of Iowa s ongoing effort for school s to utilize the RTI process nicely aligns with the professional training school counselors have in terms of individual student planning. The emphasis on providing students with research based intervention(s) is an area of expertise that school counselors can and already do provide in terms of student success. School counselors are an integral part of the process of identifying student needs, developing plans, and monitoring progress with data. Role of school counselor in implementing RTI process for struggling students includes: o utilizing the pyramid of interventions o using data to determine which students need interventions o providing individual/group counseling to address students identified needs providing positive behavior supports o connecting on interventions through professional learning communities. [For Example: Wilton High School, North Scott Elementary Schools] Page 12 > Expand high school student opportunities to learn through increased community career/technical internships and more higher education options that connect students with their dreams as soon as they are ready. School counselors work closely with students and families to identify community career/technical opportunities and higher education options. Remove barriers to higher education School counselors collaborate with teachers and other educators to arrange a sequence of required courses to ensure appropriate educational and internships Form partnerships with local businesses to educate students on requirements for industry through work projects > Create paid teacher leader roles in high-needs schools, where these parent liaisons work to establish connections with families to get them more involved in their child s education. School counselors are perfectly positioned to serve as leaders in high needs schools. School counselors, who are trained to be culturally sensitive and culturally competent, serve as parent liaisons by establishing connections with families and working closely with them to ensure involvement in their students academic, career and personal/social success. Hatch, T. (2011). Page 3

4 School counselors: o are instrumental in establishing connections and facilitating communication with families to address student behavior, attendance and academics concerns o are aware of community resources and provide direction and support to families o serve as a student and parent advocate o are trusted empathetic listeners improving school connectedness o serve as liaisons amongst students, parents, school and community resources o provide orientation/transition activities (at all levels) o provide parent events to review student assessments, conferences, both coordinate/develop/document 504/IEP plans > Target parent and community involvement resources toward high-poverty neighborhoods. School counselors are often the point of contact for homeless families [McKinney Vento Act]. School counselors provide resources distribution and support parent/school engagement [For Example: DOGS = Dads Of Great Students in Davenport School District] Page 13 > All students in safe learning environments, engaged in their own education, and hopeful about their future. School counselors are instrumental in creating and promoting a safe school climate by coordinating, providing training in and/or teaching curriculum to all students in: o bully/violence prevention education o conflict resolution/peer mediation o problem solving, motivation, healthy decision making o empathy o Cultural awareness, LGBT awareness o cyber bullying o sexual harassment o suicide prevention education School counselors provide transition activities for new students > Ninety-five percent state high school graduation rate. Graduation rates are the measure of success for all educators, including school counselors. School counselors: o meet with all students regarding graduation requirements o provide interventions to prevent drop outs o meet with individual students regarding grades and attendance o assisting students to create 4 year plans (I have a PLAN Iowa] o facilitate regular communication between parents, students and teachers for students who are at risk Hatch, T. (2011). Page 4

5 o generate lists of students at academic risk and facilitate remedial and at risk programming o working to eliminate social barriers for students o encourage involvement in activities and athletics o advise students on course selection, career pathways, and college admission process o consult staff, parents, students in 504/IEP, student study teams, teacher assistance teams o provide transition activities [For Example: Muscatine HS Musky Day Camp High School- contact: Elena Boboy] > Ninety percent of students demonstrating college and career readiness on a college entrance exam. School counselors: o provide info and opportunities to take compass, ACT, SAT, CLEP, AP exams o inform students on college test prep workshops School counselors also support students college and career readiness in the following ways: o coordinate financial aid assistance, presentations, etc. (FAFSA) o hold college planning nights o coordinate career fairs o advise students course selection, admission requirements o write letters of recommendation o ensure accurate transcripts o coordinate college representative visits o provide college visits o assist students with college applications o collaborate or organize Iowa private college week o encourage rigorous course work o RAI advisement/tracking o coordinate I Have a Plan Iowa completion o ensure local scholarship packets and award presentations Hatch, T. (2011). Page 5