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Accountability in School Counseling Program Essay

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Accountability and the Use of Data in School Counseling and Educational Systems

Melissa Hattaway

Lamar University

CNDV 5330

Accountability and the Use of Data in School Counseling and Educational Systems

Over the years, literature has expressed the need for, and importance of, accountability for student outcomes in order to give school counselors valuable data to assess and improve goals (Dahir & Stone, 2009). The ASCA National Model also supports the importance for accountability by including it as one of the essential elements, which provide structure and framework for the school counselor and counseling program (ASCA, 2005). The element of accountability, under the ASCA National Model, …show more content…

The data includes attainment by subgroups and a review of student success as a result of services delivered to students (Dollarhide & Saginak, 2012). Attainment and access data follows student achievement in relation to comprehensive services that have been offered to students through the counseling program (Dollarhide & Saginak, 2012). Therefore, documentation of services delivered, students participating, interventions delivered, and length of services are also reviewed (Dollarhide & Saginak, 2012). The evaluation of this type of data is also reviewed to ensure that students have had equal access to components of the school counseling program in order to attain set goals (Dollarhide & Saginak, 2012). This data allows school counselors and other stakeholders to review that every student was served, ensure the programs were carried out as planned, and the effectiveness of the program delivery in direct reflection to student learning and attainment (ASCA, 2005). After reflecting on student attainment as a result of equitable access to services within the school counseling program, school counselors can determine program effectiveness and components that need to be adjusted in order to meet the needs of students based on the data (ASCA, 2005). This review of data allows counselors to also set goals based on what outcome will push students to succeed but can realistically still be obtained as a result of the program (Dollarhide &

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