School Counseling

DoDEA's School Counselors provide a comprehensive guidance program to all students in grades PK-12th. The school guidance program helps build the foundation for life-long learning by assisting students in developing self-respect, awareness of others and positive learning attitudes. School counselors provide direct and indirect services and activities to students, families, and school staff for developing strategies that deal with education, personal and social challenges that may interfere with the educational process. DoDEA implemented a Competency-Based Counseling Program (CBCP)in all schools and is aligned with the American School Counseling Association (ASCA) National Model and Counseling Standards.

In elementary school, the CBCP promotes learning by assisting students in mastering skills and developing the attitudes necessary to be successful students. It emphasizes decision-making skill development and exploration of future educational and occupational possibilities. The program also stresses self-concept development and the acquisition of social skills needed for interpersonal relationships.

In middle school, the program focuses on the rapidly changing needs of pre and early adolescents. The areas emphasized in elementary school are continued, but are adjusted to fit the unique needs of students in the middle level age group. In addition, planning for the future years beyond high school is started. Each student begins a four/six-year plan with the help of the high school counseling staff, taking into account graduation requirements, interests and aptitudes and future educational and occupational goals.

In high school, CBCP assists students to become responsible adults who can develop realistic and fulfilling life plans based upon a clear understanding of themselves, their needs, abilities, interests and skills. The four/six-year plan started in middle school is reviewed and updated periodically. Continued attention is given to assisting high school students in the development of decision-making skills, particularly as they relate to post-high school education and career planning.

In concert with the DoDEA Strategic plan, the DoDEA Pacific East has positioned counselors in each school to provide direct and/or indirect support to students in the following ways:

1. Developing strategies to cope with educational, personal, and social challenges that may interfere with the education process

2. Provide activities for all students in the areas of academic, career, and personal/social development through collaboration with the classroom teachers

3. Facilitating the awareness with students and staff on the importance of diversity and acknowledging that individual differences strengthen both school operations and society in general

4. Provide support to students via classroom guidance core curriculum, individual/small group counseling, and consultation services to stakeholders to facilitate successful student development.

5. Development of an annual counseling plan, which includes goals and objectives (competencies) that support the developmental needs of students

6. Actively seek strategies and data driven resources in support of student readiness

DoDEA Pacific East has provided a platform where school counselors can engage in Focused Collaboration in elementary and secondary counseling teams to support students academic, personal/social, and career readiness.

School Counseling Annual Plans and Use of Time data: Annual plans provide the framework for a comprehensive school counseling program and is based on standards and student competencies developed by the American School Counselor Association for academic, personal/social, and career development standards. The use of time data is vital to provide insight on counselors providing the recommended 80% of direct services to students

School Counseling Professional Learning: Provides continuous professional development opportunities and resources for school counselors as a framework for their competency based school counseling programs for all DoDEA students

1. Graduation AI trainings, International Translations (ensuring processes are in place for students that accurately reflect student’s academic history in compliance with DoDEA Grad AI 1367.01 and other supporting documents)

2. Using PSAT Scores for College and Career Readiness (provide insightful information about individual student performance on the assessment, including a predicted next assessment score and their progress toward the college readiness benchmarks)

3. Transcript Review Professional Learning (ensuring DoDEA transcripts accurately reflect student’s academic history in compliance with DoDEA Grad AI 1367.01 and other supporting documents)

   • Asynchronous

   • In person

4. School Counselor ISS Collaborative Site (provides electronic resources for all school counselors to ensure fidelity in program implementation)

5. Quarterly DoDEA Professional Learning (provide professional learning for implementation of Social emotional learning-SEL, School-wide positive behavior interventions and supports-SW-PBIS, Signs of Suicide (SOS), benchmarking practices (data-driven practices) within the Multi-tiered system of service-MTSS framework

6. Student Behavior Interventions Trainings including Administrative Instruction 2510.01 (helps establish protocol and assigns responsibilities for a continuum of behavioral interventions.

7. Student Support Teams Training Documents- provides support to school based problem solving teams to improve assist with challenges students may be having

8. Choices360/ Choices360-DoDEA Web resources (provides career and academic planning tools designed to prepare students for life after high school through exploring, planning, and readiness learning experiences.)

9. School Counseling program guidance Manual (administrative guidance to provide a framework for a competency-based school counseling services program for DoDEA students)

10. DoDEA Counseling Services (The school guidance program helps build the foundation for life-long learning by assisting students in developing self-respect, awareness of others and positive learning attitudes.)

11. Master schedule workshop (provided the framework and continuous training to assist secondary school with planning and scheduling-master schedule- in alignment with DoDEA graduation requirements, honors diploma, and pathway opportunities for students)