1. Practical Considerations in Using Data
By,
Drew Sager

2. Data Usage: A Historical Context
A Nation At Risk
1990s – Many states pass comprehensive reform legislation.
Beginning of standards-based curriculum.
2002 – No Child Left Behind
Increased federal control of education.
Quantitative Indicators of:
Test scores
Attendance
Graduation rates
Documentation of yearly gains

3. School Counseling Forced to Adapt
School counselors’ traditional focus on vocation, self- knowledge, and interpersonal development are not always seen as immediately connected to enhanced test scores.
Education Trust
“A profession that focuses on the relations and interactions between students and their school environment with the expressed purpose of reducing the effect of environmental and institutional barriers that impede student academic success”.
ASCA
National Standards
Academic, Career, and Personal/Social
ASCA National Model [Foundation, Management, Delivery, Advocacy]
Overarching programmatic, organizational, and systems tool to explicitly link school counseling program to the academic missions of schools and connect school counseling with standard based education reform.

4. Types of Data Student Achievement Data Achievement-Related Data
Standardized test scores
GPAs
College acceptance rates
Dropout rates
Achievement-Related Data
Course enrollment patterns
Discipline referrals
Attendance rates
Parent involvement
Homework completion rates
Standards- and Competency-Related Data
Know the credit requirement for graduation
Demonstrate knowledge of study skills and how to use an academic planner
Use test-taking strategies
Demonstrate conflict resolution skills
Believe that it is important to come to school every day

5. Collecting, Analyzing, and Disaggregating Data
Collecting Data
Existing Data
DOE
School
New Data
Successful college applications
Scholarship support
Analyzing Data
Make appropriate comparisons
Convert raw data to percentages, ratios, and/or probabilities.
Disaggregation of Data
Compare and contrast data from different groups of students within school
Gender
Race/Ethnicity
SES
Grade

6. Using Data to Create Action Plans
Guidance Curriculum Action Plan
Analyze data to determine which standards to address.
Conduct needs assessment to determine what students, administrators, and faculty see as important.
CAPE Network online survey
School counseling curriculum should be in line with identified school improvement goals and needs.
Intentional Guidance
Designed to close identified gaps in achievement between groups of students.
Evidenced-based interventions
Groups
Use disaggregated data
Are all groups of students attending college at the same rates?
Are all groups feeling safe at school?

7. Evaluating Action Plans: Are Counseling Activities Effective?
Process Data
Provides evidence that an event occurred
Who received services, activities, or lessons; when they received it; and for how long.
Perception Data
Tells us what students learned
What a student believes, knows, or can demonstrate as a result of a lesson or activity.
ASK – Attitudes, Skills, Knowledge
Measured by survey, role plays, activity completion, pre- or posttests, etc.
Attitudes, Skills, Knowledge  Behavior change
Results Data
“Hard” data that informs us if the activity or intervention has or has not positively influenced students’ ability to use attitudes, skills, and knowledge to change their behavior.
Measured through achievement or achievement-related data

8. Results Conceptual Diagram
Process Data
Perception Data
Results Data
Competency-Attainment Data
Achievement-Related Data
Achievement Data
Guidance lessons, group counseling, etc.
Who?
What?
When?
Where?
How long?
Attitudes
Skills
Knowledge
Attendance
Discipline referrals
Parent Involvement
Homework competition
Course enrollment patterns
State standardized test
SAT/ACT scores
Graduation rates
Grade point averages
AP tests (passing)
College prep course completion.
Behavior Change
GUIDANCE CURRICULUM
INTENTIONAL GUIDANCE (intervention)

9. Which Way To Go? Challenges in Utilizing Data
Resistance from veteran counselors.
Lack of awareness form administrators.
Lack of time and resources.
Your experiences?
Your opinions?