Using Data in a School Counseling Program Miss M. Brand Pine Grove Area Elementary School

Program Results Data Process Numbers Impacted Perception Pre/Post Surveys Outcome Achievement Attendance Behavior

Data is used to…  Monitor student progress  Target interventions  Evaluate interventions and programs  Plan programs  Identify needs  Describe problems  Measure results and outcomes  Assess cost- effectiveness  Change systems  Discover patterns  Identify best practices  Make decisions

Process data What do you want to know?  Evidence that event occurred  How activity was conducted  Did the program follow the “What you did for whom”  prescribed practice?

Process Data Example  Lesson taught to 20 first graders on Bullying rules.  Lesson taught to 22 third graders on Cyber Bullying.

Perception Data What do you want to know?  What others think, know or demonstrate” data.  Measures competency achieved, knowledge gained or attitudes beliefs of students  Pre-post  Competency achievement  Surveys  Evaluations  Measures what students are perceived to have gained in knowledge

Perception Data Example  15 point question pre test on cyber bullying was given as a pre/post test.  Pre test results 41% average.  Post test results 99% average. Did the students gain knowledge on cyber bullying?

Perception Data Example  10 point question pre test on peer pressure was given as a pre/post test.  Pre test results 63% average.  Post test results 81% average. Did the students gain knowledge on peer pressure?

Results Data What do you want to know?  “So WHAT” data  Hard data  Application data  Proof your program has (or has not) positively impacted students’ ability to utilize the knowledge, attitudes and skills to effect behavior  Attendance  Behavior  Academic achievement

Examples of Data to Examine Test Scores  Achievement  State  National Enrollment  Honors/AP Classes  College Track  Special Education Graduation Rate  By Gender  By Ethnicity  By SES Attendance  Absences  Tardies  By Grade Level Discipline  By Classroom  Types of Problems  Gender GPA/Class Rank  By Gender  By Ethnicity  By SES Retention Rates  By Subject Area  By Grade Level  By Gender, Ethnicity Special Education  By Gender  By Ethnicity  By SES Dropout Rate  Grade Levels  Gender, Ethnicity…  Reasons Why

School Counselors, by virtue of their training and skills are poised to play key roles in addressing the educational challenges facing Pennsylvania schools. Building a Comprehensive Model with Key Stakeholders