# ACRN Accomplishments

## Gisela Harkin

*U.S. Department of Education, OVAE*

*March 4, 2005*

*8:45 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.*

[[Questions]{.underline}]{.mark}

Q: Are individual state reports available on the director's website?

Yes, it can be available for each state. For the final report, we
require that you answer the additional questions that specifically
address NCLB themes. You are not required to do those questions for your
mid-year report. OVAE likes to read final reports to have more than just
data, but examples.

Q: You shouldn't be concerned if you see only 3% of the funds to support
comprehensive guidance.

We understand. However, we do encourage you to use more of the funds for
the endeavor.

How CRNs Can Increase Their Involvement in Comprehensive Guidance &
Counseling Programs

## Kelly Arrington, Oklahoma State Guidance

*Judy Petersen, Utah Granite School District*

*Pat Schwallie-Giddis, George Washington University*

*March 4, 2005*

*9:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.*

### [Presentation (Kelly Arrington)]{.mark}

-   In Oklahoma, there is not a lot in pre-service about career
    development for counselors. This is a role for CRNs to fulfill.

-   In Oklahoma, there is a strong partnership between CRN and guidance
    counseling.

-   Partners such as career specialists, Tech Prep consortiums, high
    school at work sites, Perkins counselors critical to efforts.

-   7 components of career guidance for students were developed in
    Oklahoma:

    -   Does the student have a plan of study?

    -   Does the student start the plan of study early?

    -   Do the parents & student discuss the plan of study?

    -   Has someone in the school discussed the plan of study with the
        student?

    -   Has the student talked to someone in college about college if
        the student is interested?

    -   Has the student talked to someone about a particular career that
        he/she is interested in?

    -   Do parents get information about postsecondary options?

-   We have a partnership with OK Security Commission where students can
    post resumes on line and employers can search for students.

-   We took 16 career clusters and created brochures using labor market
    information.

-   CRN serves as an advisor for the Association of Job Search/Placement
    Specialist.

-   Middle grades counselors are hungry for information. CRN is able to
    help with that.

-   CRNs help guidance counselors with web presence.

-   We encourage you to fund guidance counselors to attend CRN meetings.

-   The data collection that CRN has can help supervisors and guidance
    counselors.

### [Presentation (Judy Petersen)]{.mark}

-   I want to give you the district perspective.

-   We have emphasized with administrators and counselors to look at the
    results of state wide model and district wide implementation.

-   We have a state required 7^th^ grade CTE class.

-   Student Education Opportunity Plan (SEOP)

-   8^th^ graders have access to America's Career Resource Magazine

-   CGSA (Comprehensive Guidance & Student Achievement)---new acronym
    new support for guidance program evaluation. You can't evaluate
    guidance program if it's not fully implemented. We are ready to take
    on additional project.

[Five Indicators of Students' Success]{.underline}

-   Best schedule (abilities, skills, placement) possible for students
    appropriate classes, best use of time.

-   Knowledge of interests and abilities

    -   Where CRNs play into helping students succeed

-   Parent involvement through Individual Planning component

-   Helping students to set and work towards goals

    -   Great deal of decision-making

    -   How to set goals

-   A plan for school success and tomorrow

-   Building relationships is also important

### Presentation (Pat Schwallie-Giddis)

-   I want to encourage you that you reach out to congressmen and have
    them understand who you are and what you do. Speak with authority --
    use other people's words, reference statistics, facts, and stories.

-   Ken Gray [Let's Get Real]{.underline}

    -   In order to succeed we need a comprehensive guidance program

    -   What every young person needs when they graduate is a plan for
        success.

    -   The success may be college, job, career and technical education,
        etc.

-   You need to reach out to counselors and share resources with
    counselors.

-   To be a successful CRN:

    -   We have to be up-to-date and have most current information. CRNs
        can give counselors the very latest.

    -   You need to be supportive for counselors. Be able to provide
        materials to counselors. If there is a conference/workshop
        available, inform counselors.

    -   You need to be a networker---you need to reach out to those who
        are teaching career counseling and get to know them.

    -   Be pro-active such as offering to teach a class at community
        college/college. Counselors don't get enough training.

    -   Be a mentor.

    -   Be a "buddy" that you can partner with.

    -   Be outrageous so you can get people excited. Live like "my hair
        is on fire".

[[Questions]{.underline}]{.mark}

Q: To what extent is CHOICES used and Career Future by the schools in
Granite school district in Utah?

*Every school in the district has a license for CHOICES. Career Future
is embedded in 7^th^ grade TLC (Vocational core class) and with all of
our 8^th^ graders. In a typical high school, we have career centers
where we have a certified counselor that serves as director for centers.
That person's responsibility is to walk students through that center
twice a school year.*

Q: How do you train counselors to use the software in Utah?

We have a state-wide conference: Institute of Higher Learning. CRNs are
part of that training. We train in ICDM, CHOICES, and Career Future.

Q: Is there any additional information on SEOP? Did that come from
CHOICES?

*Granite has a lot of information on SEOP, it was practiced in Utah as
far back as the mid 1980s. When the comprehensive guidance came along,
the policy makers saw the individual planning piece saw it as a fit to
house SEOP. You can visit the website:
[www.usoe.k12.ut.us](http://www.usoe.k12.ut.us/) and go to Applied
Technology, then see link for "Comprehensive Guidance", then you'll see
some great resources on SEOP. In Utah, we have enhanced the whole
ongoing career development process---each district develops own form.
Granite School District has SEOP form. The state has identified specific
things that need to be on the form.*

Q: Can counselors hear about the new classes offered at George
Washington?

We are going to teach the classes as a pilot and offering a certificate
program in Career Development Facilitation and national certification.
If you like more information, you can reach Pat at <drpat@gwu.edu>.

Q: What is it going to take to include better school guidance counseling
quality as part of high school reform. It is more than teacher quality.

You can reach out to your congressman to include counseling. We need to
help school board members and other elected officials that counselors
have a role in school and student success. Counselors need to develop an
accountability plan. We have to think differently.

In Arizona, there is a workforce solutions board put together by the
Governor. They are beginning to help drive the movement. I encourage you
to reach out to your business industries as an ally.

It is reflected in the literacy and numeracy have counselors sitting
down with parents and students and identifying best placement for
students. It is part of the Individual Planning.