During the 2013-14 school year, in alignment with the implementation of the Common Core standards, all Pleasanton Unified School District Counselors began developing a Counseling Master Plan. The Counseling Master Plan moves school counseling from a responsive service provided for some students to a program for every student. This plan focuses on three main content areas that promote behaviors that enhance the learning process: College and Career, Personal/Social and Academic. The goal is to help all students improve academic achievement, navigate personal and social development and plan for successful post-secondary education and careers.
The first strand of this plan, College and Career Readiness, will be implemented during the 2014-15 school year. Counselors will facilitate grade level classroom-based lessons that are developmental in nature and results-orientated. Using a proactive approach, the Counseling Master Plan will provide consistency in the delivery of the school counseling curriculum within elementary, middle and high school levels. Parents and guardians are key partners in this program. Communication with parents, along with follow up opportunities at home will be provided with each lesson.
The Counseling Master Plan will necessitate a change in the time allocation for counseling services. During the 2014-15 school year, with the implementation of the College and Career Readiness strand, the time spent on personal/social services will shift. At the elementary level, approximately 85% of counseling time is currently dedicated to personal/social services. This will change to approximately 50%, with 35% of counseling time being dedicated to the specific lessons outlined in PUSD’s Counseling Master Plan.
The PUSD counseling team appreciates your support of this important transition in counseling services. Starting with the College and Career Readiness strand, we believe this change will enable counselors to work with all students and help them to achieve their highest potential.
For more information about the CMP please contact Student Services.