Accountability: a M.E.A.S.U.R.E of the impact school counselors have on student achievement

Professional School Counseling, Feb, 2003 by Carol A. Dahir, Carolyn B. Stone

3. The management system presents the organizational processes and tools needed to deliver a comprehensive school counseling program. These processes and tools include: agreements of responsibility, use of data, action plans for guidance curriculum and closing the gap, and time and task analysis

4. The accountability system helps school counselors demonstrate the effectiveness of their work in measurable terms such as impact over time, performance evaluation, and a program audit.

The National Model (ASCA, 2003) speaks to the importance of having an accountability system and an organizational framework that documents and demonstrates "how are students different as a result of the school counseling program?" A commitment to accountability shifts public perception from questions such as "what do school counselors really do?" to showing how school counselors are key players in the academic success story for students and are partners in student achievement.

BELIEFS INFORM BEHAVIORS

The No Child Left Behind Act (2001) challenges the beliefs and attitudes of all educators to support all students to achieve high standards and additionally to identify and eradicate systems and ideologies that have the potential to impact negatively upon student opportunities. School counselors working together with the principal can bring attention to the faculty the importance of creating safe and drug-free communities. Breaking Ranks (National Association of Secondary School Principals, 1997) elevated the leadership and vision of the building principal through the establishment of learning communities to address closing the gap and creating climates of caring in our secondary schools. School counselors are critical players in this learning community.

School counselors who embrace membership in the learning community and a leadership mindset act on their beliefs and advocate for the removal of institutional and environmental barriers that impede success in school. As advocates advancing a social justice agenda, school counselors purposely promote equitable access to quality education for all students. Counselor behaviors begin with a commitment to a programmatic approach that is systemic in impact; grounded in social justice, advocacy, and equity; aligned with the state system and building mission; and collaboratively developed and delivered.

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School counselors can influence the school climate to ensure that high standards are the norm in a safe and respectful environment. The use of data will effectively identify institutional and environmental barriers impeding student success. School counselors can initiate, develop, and coordinate prevention and intervention systems that are designed to improve the learning success for students who are experiencing difficulty with challenging academic coursework. Viewing the world of schools through an accountability lens helps school counselors to act on their belief system and assume a leadership role to identify and rectify issues that impact every student's ability to achieve at expected levels.