Recognized American School Counselors Association Model Program (RAMP)

Is your school counseling program ready to RAMP?

What is RAMP?

Is the school counseling program ready to RAMP?

What are the first steps?

What tools are available to help a school counseling program RAMP?

RAMP = Recognized ASCA Model Program

RAMP was created in 2003 to identify schools that have successfully implemented the ASCA National Model.

It is also a vehicle for RAMP schools to showcase their programs to

administrators, school board members and the community at large.

An engraved plaque, suitable for display on the office wall or in the school's trophy case

Letter sent to the school board, principal and superintendent

Template press release for the school counselor to individualize and send to local press

Use of RAMP logo for school counselor’s business cards, letterhead, Web site or printed materials

Recognition at ASCA’s annual conference

Two tickets to the RAMP Recognition Luncheon during ASCA's annual conference

Recognition in ASCA School Counselor magazine and on ASCA's Web site

2003-2004 5

2004-2005 8

2005-2006 18

2006-2007 81

2007-2008 63

2008-2009 72

2009-2010 86

2010-2011 101

47 Elementary Schools

19 Middle Schools

35 High Schools

Ramp schools represent 20 states

20 of the 2011 RAMP schools are ReRAMP

Each of the 12 components is scored based on a rubric.

The scores go from a low of 1 to a high of 5.

To receive RAMP, the average score from the 3 reviewers must be a 54 or higher.

• The RAMP application is available on the ASCA website - www.schoolcounselor.org – click on ASCA National Model.

• Any school can apply. The application fee is $200 per entry providing the person submitting is an ASCA member. The fee is $400 for nonmembers.

• Applications are due – October 15, 2010 – and are reviewed by a panel of school counseling professionals once a year.

• The RAMP designation is valid for three years.

Statement of Philosophy Mission Statement School Counseling Program Goals Competencies and Indicators Management Agreement Advisory Council Calendars Classroom Guidance Curriculum Action Plan Classroom Guidance Results Report Small-Group Responsive Services Closing the Gap Results Report Program Evaluation Reflection

First Steps: School counselors conduct a program audit School counselors write a Philosophy

Statement School counselors write a School Counseling

Mission Statement School counselors examine their data to

determine program goals School counselors develop a timeline

Using the Virginia Professional School Counseling Program Manual

Completing the program audit

Completing the RAMP Readiness Audit

Purpose ◦ Provide school counselors with the tools needed to develop a

comprehensive school counseling program

Aligned with the ◦ ASCA National Model◦ Standards for School Counseling Programs in VA Public Schools◦ NCLB

Manual consists of:◦ Foundation, Management, Delivery, Accountability, Core

Competencies ◦ Introduction of each component◦ Strategies and tips ◦ Audit ◦ Action plan ◦ Examples ◦ Resources

Why Audit?◦Accesses progress◦Identifies what is or isn’t working and program gaps

◦Provides a starting point for work that needs to be done

Completing the one-page RAMP Readiness Audit

The audit will give school counselors a good picture of what they have accomplished and their next steps

School counselors collaborate with others who are going for RAMP or who have gotten RAMP

Create an action plan and a time-line: ◦ What can be accomplished this year?◦ What will the school counselors need? (time?

resources?)

Do the school counselors have a comprehensive school counseling program based on the ASCA National Model in place?

Do the school counselors have administration support? Do the school counselors have access to school data

(e.g., School Report Card)? Are school counselors using data to make program

decisions and demonstrate the impact of their program?

Have the school counselors audited their school counseling program?

Do the school counselors have support from other school counselors (in their building or district) and district counseling leadership?

Philosophy Statement ◦ Describes what do the school counselor believes

about: students, school, education, school counseling program, his/her roles in the educational process, and the use of data and evaluation

RAMP Requirements: Half to one-page statement that address

beliefs, student needs, counselor’s role, program plan, use of data, evaluation and ethical standards

Half-page narrative describing how philosophy statement was developed

Aligned with needs of school supported by data

A Mission Statement:◦ Explains counseling program purpose◦ Align with the school’s mission statement ◦ 3 – 4 sentences in length (easy to remember)◦ Is student focused and describes long-range

results for students◦ Advocates for equity and access for all students

RAMP Requirements:◦ Mission Statement◦ Half-page narrative describing how it was

developed

School Counseling Program Goals:◦ School counseling program goals are specific

and measurable and promote improved student achievement, attendance or behavior

◦ They can address school wide issues or closing-the-gap issues for smaller group of students

RAMP Requirements:◦ Program goals promote student achievement,

attendance or behavior for all students. ◦ Goals are based on date and address school

wide or closing-the-gap issues◦ Half-page narrative describing how program

goals are selected and how they promote domain (personal/social, academic, career) development

Competencies and Indicators:◦ School specific competencies and indicators

from ASCA National Model are the foundation for classroom guidance lessons, small groups and activities

◦ They are linked to the school counseling program, mission and goals

RAMP Requirements:◦ Use ‘Template’ to show grade-level specific

competencies and indicators for the school counseling program

◦ Half-page narrative describing how competencies are developed, reviewed and revised each year

List school counseling programs and services

Align with ASCA National Standards

Identify state and local standards

Indicate the programs and services that meet the national, state, and local standards

Review crosswalk to see where standards are not covered or need to be improved (gaps).

Classroom Guidance Curriculum:◦ Curriculum action plan for the school counseling

program and detailed lesson plans for three activities

◦ An action plan and lesson plan template available

RAMP Requirements:◦ Lesson plan includes the dates delivered,

standards, competencies and indicators covered

◦ Action plan includes detailed lesson plans for three activities from the plan

◦ Half-page narrative addresses how the rationale for the topics were selected and reflects effectiveness of lessons, and how they were delivered

Small Group Responsive Services:◦ Provide a list of all groups conducted including

name of group, focus, number of participants, name of counselor, times met

◦ Include lesson plans for one small group including dates, topic for each session, process, perception and results data for the group

RAMP Requirements:◦ A list of all groups conducted during one

program year including details listed above◦ Half-page narrative addresses how and why the

group topics and participants were selected and how the results will be used

Management System coordinates and organizes activities and responsibilities associated with the implementing of the school counseling program. After examining school’s date, the school counselor consults with stakeholders, and determines program needs. Then plans are made to meet those needs are create responsibilities and timelines are established.

Management RAMP Components:

•Management Agreement

•Advisory Council

•Calendar

•Program Evaluation Reflection

Management Agreement:◦ Management agreement for each counselor,

signed within first two months of school year◦ Includes percent of time allocated for delivery

services, additional responsibilities

RAMP Requirements:◦ Management agreement for each counselor,

signed by administrator◦ Includes time allocation, additional

responsibilities and professional development◦ Half-page narrative describes how duties are

distributed and how these decisions are made

Management Agreement -Collaborate with supervising administrator to develop an

annual written agreement

-Align program goals with counselor responsibilities.

-Based on priority goals, responsibilities, and caseload numbers, list an approximate determination of how the counselor’s time will be spent.

-Establish a regular schedule of meetings (weekly meetings are recommended) with the supervising administrator should be listed.

-List professional development opportunities, resources, etc.

Advisory Council:◦ Evidence of advisory council meetings include

agendas, minutes and identification of members

◦ Primary purpose of advisory council is to improve school counseling program and to apply for RAMP

RAMP Requirements:◦ Two advisory council meeting agendas and

minutes◦ Evidence that Advisory council is representative

of school community ◦ Half-page narrative describing how feedback

from the advisory council is used.

Advisory Council “An advisory council is a representative group of persons appointed to both advise and assist the school counseling

program…to help build an excellent school counseling program” (ASCA, 2005a, p.47).

Advisory council has membership representative of the school & community demographics and the various school stakeholders.

The advisory council meets at least twice a year to review the school counseling program audit, goals, and program results and to make recommendations.

The advisory council advocates for the school counseling program and acts as a communications conduit to the community.

Calendars:◦ Master calendar for most recent academic year

including school counseling activities and events for the school counseling program

◦ Two weekly calendars for each school counselor, one for fall and spring including dates and specific information as possible

RAMP Requirements:◦ Master calendar for most recent school year

and two weekly calendars for each counselor◦ Half-page narrative explains the calendar and

how adjustments are made

Understand the achievement gap at the school?

Evaluate school counseling services? Demonstrate school counselor impact and effectiveness?

Inform program improvement? Evaluate the school counseling program annually?

Accountability Audit

Are the school counselors using data to …

Results Report:◦ Results report for the three lessons for the

school counseling program◦ A results report template is available

RAMP Requirements:◦ Results report presents the results of the three

classroom guidance curriculum lessons◦ Half-page narrative addresses how the results

will impact future school counseling activities

Closing the Gap Results Report:◦ Report is tied to the school counseling program

goals and should include objectives, target group, curriculum/materials, activities/interventions, process, perception and results data, implications for the school counseling program and the school

RAMP Requirements:◦ Results report is tied to the school counseling

program goals, and reports exemplary data◦ Half-page narrative addresses how the gap was

identified and why the activities or interventions were chosen as well as next steps

Program Evaluation Reflection:◦ Presents the ways in which the school’s

comprehensive school counseling program use leadership, advocacy and collaboration to create systemic change to make a difference for students

RAMP Requirements:◦ Reflection may be presented in video/audio file

(3-5 minutes) or written (500-1,500 wds)◦ The four elements (leadership, advocacy,

collaboration, systemic change) must be covered