Chapter 4

Criterion Reports

 

SUPPORT FOR STUDENT PERSONAL

AND ACADEMIC GROWTH

 

 

Each of the groups had their own make-up representing the different stakeholders.?Their attendance varied from those who attended one meeting to those who attended all meetings.?

 

There were two Home Groups from across the four regions.?One group consisted of ROP Counselors and conducted their WASC work as part of their bi-monthly regular meetings.?The second group consisted of ROP Technicians, LACOROP Secretaries, Administrative Aides, Attendance and Fiscal Staff, and Job Search Specialists.?All LACOROP staff were members of these groups.?The ROP Technicians utilized their spring in-service to discuss WASC process, encourage participation and review strategies for evidence gathering.?Team members who could not attend were kept informed of their group’s work by receiving highlights and memos written by the different Home Groups.

 

Each of the groups reviewed and analyzed:

?span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>                    Student work samples

?span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>                    ROP communications and program promotional materials

?span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>                    Community meeting agendas

?span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>                    Student, teacher interviews

?span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>                    Student, parent, teacher surveys

?span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>                    Counselor bi-monthly task list

?span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>                    Counselor Performance Expectations

?span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>                    Student interest assessments

?span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>                    Course catalogs

?span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>                    Student Career and College Planning Guide, 1998-1999

?span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>                    Class schedules

?span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>                    Student event materials for College Day, Career Fair, Student Portfolio Day, Student of the Month and Student of the Year.

 

The Counselor Home Group developed a student questionnaire for the purpose of surveying student perceptions in receiving counseling and guidance support to achieve the ESLR’s.? The Support Services Home Group developed three different questionnaires: one questionnaire for students, a second for parents, and a third for teachers to assess if support services were provided to students and ROP staff.

 

Both Home Groups discussed the guide questions and examined the methods for data collection as well as evidence gathering.?There was much discussion on the clarification on types of data and evidence to be gathered.?Each group was given the opportunity to address the guide question as it relates to the ESLRs and was asked to forward their input to the Focus Group facilitators in the four regions.?All support staff were given the opportunity to participate with input and evidence collection either in person or by mail to the lead.

 

The evidence was collected, reviewed, and groups determined its inclusion to support the guide question.? Further discussion was held to clarify and define the term “all students?since the groups were instructed to base all decisions and findings on all students.

 

Evidence:

?span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>      WASC membership

?span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>      Counselor Home Group Membership

?span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>      Sign-in sheets

?span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>      Agendas

?span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>      Counselor Home Group Minutes

?span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>      ?/span>Definition list of “all students?o:p>

 

 

??????C1.??????Student Connectedness Criterion

??????Guide Question:

Are students connected to a system of support services, activities and opportunities at the school and within the community that meet the challenges of the curricular/co-curricular program in order to achieve the expected school-wide learning results?

 

Conclusions:

Yes, students are strongly connected to a system of support services, activities, and opportunities, both at school and in their respective communities.?Increased awareness has been placed on student learning and achievement.?Support services staff work with teachers across job roles and responsibilities to plan strategies and assess student progress with teachers toward achieving the ESLRs.

 

Discussion led to these findings and strengths:

 

1.                  The Support Services Regions and Home Groups identified counselors, technicians, teachers, job search specialists, and job developers, as the core student support team. In addition, indirect support is provided by secretaries, clerical support, and administrative aides.?Support Services Staff provide support to students by encouraging application of learning through ROP, and help students understand the relevance between academic classes, future career, and interest.? To help improve the career decision making process and ROP course selection a review of the utilization of student data from student assessments is required.

 

The ROP Student Support Team is involved in supporting the classroom teacher and students to help achieve the ESLRs by assisting with field trips, class projects, providing support for student progress towards meeting course objectives, and making connections to the learning environment.

 

A wide variety of support services is provided by the student support team to implement different delivery strategies which enhance the general course curriculum and achievement of the ESLRs.?Examples of the different delivery strategies to connect the students from recruitment to enrollment are classroom presentations, career fairs, student bulletins, and newsletter announcements.?ROP Counselors personalize student support by administering the career interest surveys and the follow-up interpretation.

 

While the above services are noted as supporting the ESLRs, the groups found that other activities were also needed to support the achievement of the ESLRs.

 

The discussion started two years ago at the Strategic Planning Advisory Committee Retreat and amid the process of the Support Services self study that indicated a need to review the status of the Job Information Services (JIS) unit.?The service delivery model was perceived as being severely underutilized by districts.?The Support Services Standing Committee developed a district needs assessment, analyzed the data, and verified that the JIS services were not meeting district needs effectively.?At the same time, District Issues Task Force, composed of Steering Committee representatives and district superintendents, discussed the JIS unit, among other issues, and recommended the unit be eliminated as it currently exists.? The ROP Curriculum and Instruction Committee was asked to design and recommend a new job services model, if needed, to the Steering Committee.?The Personal Portfolio and Job Finders Guide, two exemplary products, are widely purchased state and nationally; therefore, staff will continue to support this service.


 

Evidence

????????????????????????3 Class Schedules

3Public Relations materials

3Student Career and College Planning Guide, 1998-1999

3School Newsletters

3Regular meetings with school counselors

3Counselor bi-monthly task list

3Los Angeles County Resource Referral Directory

3Counselor administered student survey results

3Support Services questionnaire for
??students,?parents, and teachers

3Counselor meeting agendas

3Counselor monthly calendars

3Course catalog

3Web Site

3Strategic Plan highlights

3Support Services Standing Committee highlights

35 Star Coalition/Issues Task Force Recommendations

3Steering Committee minutes

 

2.                  The student support team works at coordinating student intervention and integrating ROP information into the school guidance program to support student success.?ROP counselors, teachers, and technicians work with other school site staff to assist students with scheduling of classes and individual, academic and career counseling.?ROP staff need to identify strategies that support recruitment and achievement for special populations.

On-going student advisement and support is in place, however, a review of the process is necessary to determine its effectiveness.

 

??????Evidence:

????????????3Class schedules

????????????3Counselor bi-monthly task list

????????????3Counselor performance expectations

????????????3Student /Support Staff Home Group minutes/agendas

????????????3Counselor duties

????????????3Counselor meeting agendas

 


 

3.?? The ROP student support team consists of: Coordinator-in-Charge, Technician, Steering Committee Rep, Consultants.?The School site support team consists of: ROP Counselors, Technicians, regular School Counselor and Asst. Principal.?On-going discussion and plans are reviewed to improve articulation and opportunities to help prepare students to make a successful transition to the next level of school learning and work.?This resulted in increase awareness of ROP to 9th grade students.

 

 

Evidence:

??????3Counselor monthly calendars

??????3Results of counselor administered student survey

??????3Results of support services questionnaire for students,

????????parents, and teachers

??????3Counselor bi-monthly task list

??????3Student Support Team and School Site staff

????????meeting agendas/highlights

??????3Counselor meeting agendas


 

C1. Areas of Growth

 

?span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        Review the extent to which student assessments are used to help improve the career decision making process and ROP course selection.
Utilize student interests, desires, and assessments for the appropriate placement of students in LACOROP classes to enhance the student career decision making process.

Develop and implement a process which helps to ensure continual student achievement and support.

 

?span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        Identify strategies and activities that support recruitment and achievement for special populations.
ROP staff should analyze the process used to review course enrollment/completion data to determine what gender, ethnic/racial, or disability groups are underrepresented in ROP courses and take concrete steps to recruit these students and support them for success.? This analysis and suggested strategies will enhance the student support system.

 

?span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        Review the extent to which there exists an effective process for continual student advisement and support.
Student progress reports are used; however, there appears to be inconsistency in communication with parents, ROP support staff, and school site support staff.?To provide immediate help to struggling students, the system for monitoring student achievement data (progress reports, grade reports, attendance, and teacher referrals) should be reviewed.

 

?span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        Develop activities to support the achievement of the ESLRS.
Although many ROP services already in place support the achievement of the ESLRS, it is important that current services be reviewed and updated.

 

?span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        Increase 9th grade student awareness of ROP.
Ninth grade students are often unsure of ROP classes and programs and how they may enhance the high school experience and augment selected career pathways.?Information in the form of materials, presentations, etc., needs to reach these students as freshmen at the appropriate time for program planning.

 


 

C2.??????Parent/Community Involvement Criterion

????????Guide Question:

Does the ROP leadership employ a wide range of strategies to ensure that parental and community involvement is integral to the ROP’s established support system for students.

 

Yes, ROP leadership employs a wide range of strategies for community involvement; however, parental involvement is minimal.?ROP leadership provides support to the Support Services Team with materials, resource guides, community contacts, and time to implement a variety of strategies which promote community involvement.?

 

Conclusions:?

1.?? Examples of strategies to support parent involvement include Tenth Grade Parent Conferencing to share opportunities in ROP, Guidance Career Planning Guide booklets made available to parents, Career Fairs offered to students and parents, ROP presentations at Back-to-School Nights and School Open House events and school site parent group presentations.

 

Evidence:

?? 3Counselor bi-monthly task list

?? 3Counselor duties list

?? 3Counselor monthly calendars

?? 3Student Career and College Planning Guide, 1998-1999

?? 3Promotional course flyers

?? 3LACOROP “Fact Sheet?o:p>

?? 3Public Relations materials

?? 3School newsletter

?? 3Back-to-School agendas

?? 3Open House agendas

?? 3Parent meeting agendas

?? 3Career Fair schedules

 

 

2.?? Examples of strategies to support community involvement include presentations to community based organizations; County and District Boards of Education; Chambers of Commerce; ROP Advisory Committees; church groups; public agencies including Employment Development Department, County Children Services, foster group homes, community day schools, and public local officials.?The student support team plans and implements local communication strategies that include print and TV cable stations.

 

????????????

Evidence:

3Counselor bi-monthly task list

3Counselor duties list
3Counselor monthly calendars
3Public Relations materials

3Presentation agendas and letters to community based
??organizations

3 ‘ROP at Work?Newsletter
3Course catalog
3Web Site