Evaluation of the Counseling, College and Career Specialist, and Social Work Programs in a Midwest School District

Shonda O. Ambers-Phillips, Lindenwood University

Abstract

In education, much emphasis is placed on academic achievement without fully understanding the role counseling programs can have to ensure all students are learning at high levels and are college and career ready. The staff of Midwest School District believes that guidance and counseling is an integral part of each school’s total education program. As a commitment to this belief, the district developed a program evaluation plan to both consistently and effectively evaluate district programs. An essential component of a school counseling program’s accountability is to provide evidence that what school counselors do makes a measurable difference in the lives of students, particularly academic achievement and school success. The purpose of Midwest’s guidance and counseling evaluation was to examine the current reality and establish expectations related to programming and design, K-12 alignment of services, and best meet student needs. The district program follows the Missouri Comprehensive Model Guidance Program (MCMGP) and addresses the academic, personal/social, and career planning of every Midwest student. At the end of the program evaluation, the school district and other educators will have an assessment of the professional school counselors, college and career specialist and school social workers as well as considerations for improvements and a perspective on the service delivery models employed by the district to address the needs of K-12 students.