1. ©2007 Dr. Karl Squier1 Toolkit 1 –Step 1b Understanding a Complete Planning Cycle

2. ©2007 Dr. Karl Squier2 What Are the Driving Forces? No Child Left Behind (2001) Article 31, RI General Assembly (2002) ASCA National Model (2005) RI Board of Regents High School Regulations (2003) RIDE’s Guidance on the High School Regulations (2004) RI High School Diploma System (2005) Budgets

3. ©2007 Dr. Karl Squier3 Counseling Administrators –District-wide Administrators (e.g., Director of Counseling, Level Coordinator) –School-based Leaders (e.g., Counseling Department Head, Lead Counselor) Who Will Use Toolkit 1?

4. ©2007 Dr. Karl Squier4 Why This Toolkit? Why Now? We need to get better at planning With the focus on implementing comprehensive school counseling programs, the time to get better is now This toolkit provides simple and effective ways to design, plan and implement a comprehensive program in your district TK1 is about helping you plan better so you can better serve your students

5. ©2007 Dr. Karl Squier5 What TK1 Can Help You Do  Learn a complete planning cycle  Conduct a program audit  Develop a 3-year strategic plan  Develop annual implementation plans  Manage implementation of the plans  Assess progress toward plan goals  Establish an accountability system

6. ©2007 Dr. Karl Squier6 Fundamental Results Your students achieve the ASCA National Counseling Standards A comprehensive school counseling program is implemented in your district Your students have a better chance of growth and success because of the counseling program TK1 can help you achieve the most important results in school counseling

7. ©2007 Dr. Karl Squier7 Learn the Planning Process School leaders learn the planning process by: –Focusing on four basic questions –Understanding the four phases of a complete planning cycle –Learning how to apply continuous improvement principles while implementing the plan –Learning how to use data to evaluate the impact of implementing a comprehensive school counseling program

8. ©2007 Dr. Karl Squier8 Four Basic Questions Where do we want to be? (Vision Setting) Where are we now? (Needs/ Capability Assessment) How do we get from here to there? (Plan Development & Implementation) How do we measure our progress? (Evaluation) Planning is conducted by answering:

9. ©2007 Dr. Karl Squier9 A Complete Planning Cycle The four questions are used to generate information needed to successfully complete the planning cycle Articulate Vision Assess Needs Define Results Develop Plan Implement & Monitor Plan Evaluate & Update Plan Phase 1Phase 2Phase 3Phase 4

10. ©2007 Dr. Karl Squier10 Phase 1 Envision, Assess & Define Assemble a Work Group Articulate Your Vision Conduct a Needs/Capability Assessment Define the Results You Expect to Achieve

11. ©2007 Dr. Karl Squier11 Phase 2 Develop Strategic/Annual Plans Counselors and Administrators Apply the Planning Process by: –Focusing on Three Fundamental Aspects of Education –Developing Action Plans for Areas Critical to Successful School Counseling –Gathering Vital Information for Constructing Your Plan

12. ©2007 Dr. Karl Squier12 Counseling, Teaching & Learning Documented School Counseling Program Rigorous Counseling Curriculum Individual Learning Plans for Students Assessment of Student Progress Instructional Technology Equity and Excellence Professional Development Organizational Structure Planning and Program Evaluation Information Systems/Data Documentation Human Resources Student Support Services Finance Facilities Family & Community Involvement Partnerships Public Relations Distributed among these three aspects are critical areas for which action plans must be written if school counseling is to be successful Organizational Support School Community Three Fundamental Aspects of Successful Schools

13. ©2007 Dr. Karl Squier13 The Planning Template Results Groups Results Statements Indicators of Success Action Steps & Sub-Steps –Begin Date –End Date –Owner –Cost –Funding Source Status The planning template contains the following data fields. Each results group can have multiple results statements. Each results statement can have multiple action steps

14. ©2007 Dr. Karl Squier14 Phase 3 Implement the Plan and Monitor Progress Manage the Implementation Effort Monitor Progress Toward Expected Results for Plan Take Corrective Action as Needed Identify and Eliminate Root Causes of Problems Submit Periodic Progress Reports

15. ©2007 Dr. Karl Squier15 Continuous Improvement Clearly Defined Goals & Measures Ongoing Monitoring Adjustments Quick Fix Address Root Cause Measure Impact Continuous improvement principles are incorporated into the plan to ensure ongoing monitoring of progress toward plan goals and timely adjustments to implementation activities

16. ©2007 Dr. Karl Squier16 Phase 4 Evaluate and Update Plans School leaders evaluate the impact of the plan and update their strategic and annual plans by:  Reviewing the annual progress toward goals within specified timeframes and cost/resource allocations  Documenting the results of their evaluation  Using the evaluation results to update their strategic and annual plans

17. ©2007 Dr. Karl Squier17 Phase 4, continued Evaluate and Update Plans Evaluate the Impact of Implementing Your Plan (Process, Perception and Results Data) Document the Results of Your Evaluation Report the Results & Demonstrate Your Accountabilities Use the Evaluation Results to Update Your Strategic and Annual Plans

18. ©2007 Dr. Karl Squier18 Thoughts on Accountability Your strategic and annual plans can be used as the basis for a school counseling accountability system Accountability is based on: –Stating what we will do in terms of measurable results and concrete indicators of success –Aligning what we do with what the school counseling profession states needs to be done –Assuming ownership for our role in the successful implementation of the plan –Conducting ongoing monitoring and reporting of progress toward plan goals –Generating compelling data that implementing the plan has a positive impact on student success and the health of the school reform initiatives

19. ©2007 Dr. Karl Squier19 Accountability Reports Activity logs Periodic status reports Annual evaluation of progress toward plan’s expected results Support Personnel Accountability Report Card (SPARC) Commissioner’s Review

20. ©2007 Dr. Karl Squier20 Start Your Plan Today Write down the first three steps you are going to take to get your planning process underway Decide the date by which each step will be successfully completed Determine how you will know you are successful Decide who you need to help you get the job done and ask them to help you