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MEASURE

Missions, Elements, Analyze, Stakeholders-Unite, Reanalyze, Educate

A Six-Step Accountability Process for School Counselors

Clover Park High School

Step One: Mission

The mission statement for Clover Park School District is to teach all children what they need to know to succeed and contribute to their community.

Step Two: Elements

Clover Park High School drop out rate is currently at 13.6% according to the 2004 data on the OSPI report card.

Step Three: Analyze

Goal: To decrease the current drop out rate at Clover Park High School to 11%.

According to the Graduation and Dropout Statistics for Washington in 2002-2003, 2.2% of students dropped out of school because of a suspension or expulsion due to a drug/alcohol offense. Targeting an action plan for drug/alcohol prevention and intervention could help decrease the drop out rate in order for Clover Park High School to reach its goal.

Step Four: Stakeholders-Unite

School Counselors:

1.      Coordinate with the student assistance counselor to provide classroom presentations to students about the consequences of drug/alcohol use.

2.      Provide school wide prevention events or activities.

3.      Help the health teachers identify an effective curriculum that targets drug/alcohol prevention.

4.      Provide prevention groups for students who would like to help promote a drug free school environment.

5.      Offer recovery groups for students who are trying to abstain from drug/alcohol use.

6.      Facilitate a parent night that informs parents about drug/alcohol prevention and intervention including signs and symptoms.

7.      Provide a signs and symptoms behavioral form for teachers to use to identify students they may be concerned about in their classrooms.

8.      Identify students who are at risk or using drugs/alcohol and refer them to community or in school resources.

Teachers:

1.      Identify at risk students by filling out signs and symptoms behavioral form and turning it in to the school or student assistance counselor.

2.      Provide opportunities for the counselor or guest speakers to come into the classroom to do awareness presentations.

3.      Offer assignments or projects that gives students opportunities to share their thoughts and feelings about drug/alcohol use.

Administrators:

1. Incorporate drug/alcohol assistance into the school discipline policy. (Example: if students are caught under the influence or in possession of a substance instead of being suspended or expelled they have the option to obtain drug/alcohol treatment or education.)
2. Identify students of concern by sifting through discipline referrals and reporting the information to the school or student assistance counselor.

Students:

1. Be involved in prevention groups to promote a drug free school environment.
2. Attend a recovery group if they are trying to abstain from drugs/alcohol.
3. Get involved in school wide prevention activities.
4. Refer themselves or friends if they are concerned about their drug/alcohol use.

Parents:

1. Attend a parent night to be more educated and aware of students drug/alcohol use.
2. Contact school or student assistance counselor if concerned about possible signs and symptoms of their child’s use.

Step Five: Reanalyze, Reflect, and Revise

Collect data on students who were expelled or suspended for drug/alcohol offenses. Did the infractions decrease, increase or remain the same? Calculate the drop out rate after the school year has ended and identify if the goal had some impact on the school drop out rate. Get input from school staff and students by handing out surveys and providing staff meetings.

Step Six: Educate

The school and the school district should review the results from the strategy. This would provide opportunities for input on what worked, what didn’t work and brainstorming for new ideas to utilize for the next school year.