Recognized American School Counselors Association Model Program (RAMP)
Is your school counseling program ready to RAMP?
What is RAMP?
Is the school counseling program ready to RAMP?
What are the first steps?
What tools are available to help a school counseling program RAMP?
RAMP = Recognized ASCA Model Program
RAMP was created in 2003 to identify schools that have successfully implemented the ASCA National Model.
It is also a vehicle for RAMP schools to showcase their programs to
administrators, school board members and the community at large.
An engraved plaque, suitable for display on the office wall or in the school's trophy case
Letter sent to the school board, principal and superintendent
Template press release for the school counselor to individualize and send to local press
Use of RAMP logo for school counselor’s business cards, letterhead, Web site or printed materials
Recognition at ASCA’s annual conference
Two tickets to the RAMP Recognition Luncheon during ASCA's annual conference
Recognition in ASCA School Counselor magazine and on ASCA's Web site
2003-2004 5
2004-2005 8
2005-2006 18
2006-2007 81
2007-2008 63
2008-2009 72
2009-2010 86
2010-2011 101
Each of the 12 components is scored based on a rubric.
The scores go from a low of 1 to a high of 5.
To receive RAMP, the average score from the 3 reviewers must be a 54 or higher.
• The RAMP application is available on the ASCA website - www.schoolcounselor.org – click on ASCA National Model.
• Any school can apply. The application fee is $200 per entry providing the person submitting is an ASCA member. The fee is $400 for nonmembers.
• Applications are due – October 15, 2010 – and are reviewed by a panel of school counseling professionals once a year.
• The RAMP designation is valid for three years.
Statement of Philosophy Mission Statement School Counseling Program Goals Competencies and Indicators Management Agreement Advisory Council Calendars Classroom Guidance Curriculum Action Plan Classroom Guidance Results Report Small-Group Responsive Services Closing the Gap Results Report Program Evaluation Reflection
First Steps: School counselors conduct a program audit School counselors write a Philosophy
Statement School counselors write a School Counseling
Mission Statement School counselors examine their data to
determine program goals School counselors develop a timeline
Using the Virginia Professional School Counseling Program Manual
Completing the program audit
Completing the RAMP Readiness Audit
Purpose ◦ Provide school counselors with the tools needed to develop a
comprehensive school counseling program
Aligned with the ◦ ASCA National Model◦ Standards for School Counseling Programs in VA Public Schools◦ NCLB
Manual consists of:◦ Foundation, Management, Delivery, Accountability, Core
Competencies ◦ Introduction of each component◦ Strategies and tips ◦ Audit ◦ Action plan ◦ Examples ◦ Resources
Why Audit?◦Accesses progress◦Identifies what is or isn’t working and program gaps
◦Provides a starting point for work that needs to be done
Completing the one-page RAMP Readiness Audit
The audit will give school counselors a good picture of what they have accomplished and their next steps
School counselors collaborate with others who are going for RAMP or who have gotten RAMP
Create an action plan and a time-line: ◦ What can be accomplished this year?◦ What will the school counselors need? (time?
resources?)
Do the school counselors have a comprehensive school counseling program based on the ASCA National Model in place?
Do the school counselors have administration support? Do the school counselors have access to school data
(e.g., School Report Card)? Are school counselors using data to make program
decisions and demonstrate the impact of their program?
Have the school counselors audited their school counseling program?
Do the school counselors have support from other school counselors (in their building or district) and district counseling leadership?
Philosophy Statement ◦ Describes what do the school counselor believes
about: students, school, education, school counseling program, his/her roles in the educational process, and the use of data and evaluation
RAMP Requirements: Half to one-page statement that address
beliefs, student needs, counselor’s role, program plan, use of data, evaluation and ethical standards
Half-page narrative describing how philosophy statement was developed
Aligned with needs of school supported by data
A Mission Statement:◦ Explains counseling program purpose◦ Align with the school’s mission statement ◦ 3 – 4 sentences in length (easy to remember)◦ Is student focused and describes long-range
results for students◦ Advocates for equity and access for all students
RAMP Requirements:◦ Mission Statement◦ Half-page narrative describing how it was
developed
School Counseling Program Goals:◦ School counseling program goals are specific
and measurable and promote improved student achievement, attendance or behavior
◦ They can address school wide issues or closing-the-gap issues for smaller group of students
RAMP Requirements:◦ Program goals promote student achievement,
attendance or behavior for all students. ◦ Goals are based on date and address school
wide or closing-the-gap issues◦ Half-page narrative describing how program
goals are selected and how they promote domain (personal/social, academic, career) development
Competencies and Indicators:◦ School specific competencies and indicators
from ASCA National Model are the foundation for classroom guidance lessons, small groups and activities
◦ They are linked to the school counseling program, mission and goals
RAMP Requirements:◦ Use ‘Template’ to show grade-level specific
competencies and indicators for the school counseling program
◦ Half-page narrative describing how competencies are developed, reviewed and revised each year
List school counseling programs and services
Align with ASCA National Standards
Identify state and local standards
Indicate the programs and services that meet the national, state, and local standards
Review crosswalk to see where standards are not covered or need to be improved (gaps).
Classroom Guidance Curriculum:◦ Curriculum action plan for the school counseling
program and detailed lesson plans for three activities
◦ An action plan and lesson plan template available
RAMP Requirements:◦ Lesson plan includes the dates delivered,
standards, competencies and indicators covered
◦ Action plan includes detailed lesson plans for three activities from the plan
◦ Half-page narrative addresses how the rationale for the topics were selected and reflects effectiveness of lessons, and how they were delivered
Small Group Responsive Services:◦ Provide a list of all groups conducted including
name of group, focus, number of participants, name of counselor, times met
◦ Include lesson plans for one small group including dates, topic for each session, process, perception and results data for the group
RAMP Requirements:◦ A list of all groups conducted during one
program year including details listed above◦ Half-page narrative addresses how and why the
group topics and participants were selected and how the results will be used
Management System coordinates and organizes activities and responsibilities associated with the implementing of the school counseling program. After examining school’s date, the school counselor consults with stakeholders, and determines program needs. Then plans are made to meet those needs are create responsibilities and timelines are established.
Management RAMP Components:
•Management Agreement
•Advisory Council
•Calendar
•Program Evaluation Reflection
Management Agreement:◦ Management agreement for each counselor,
signed within first two months of school year◦ Includes percent of time allocated for delivery
services, additional responsibilities
RAMP Requirements:◦ Management agreement for each counselor,
signed by administrator◦ Includes time allocation, additional
responsibilities and professional development◦ Half-page narrative describes how duties are
distributed and how these decisions are made
Management Agreement -Collaborate with supervising administrator to develop an
annual written agreement
-Align program goals with counselor responsibilities.
-Based on priority goals, responsibilities, and caseload numbers, list an approximate determination of how the counselor’s time will be spent.
-Establish a regular schedule of meetings (weekly meetings are recommended) with the supervising administrator should be listed.
-List professional development opportunities, resources, etc.
Advisory Council:◦ Evidence of advisory council meetings include
agendas, minutes and identification of members
◦ Primary purpose of advisory council is to improve school counseling program and to apply for RAMP
RAMP Requirements:◦ Two advisory council meeting agendas and
minutes◦ Evidence that Advisory council is representative
of school community ◦ Half-page narrative describing how feedback
from the advisory council is used.
Advisory Council “An advisory council is a representative group of persons appointed to both advise and assist the school counseling
program…to help build an excellent school counseling program” (ASCA, 2005a, p.47).
Advisory council has membership representative of the school & community demographics and the various school stakeholders.
The advisory council meets at least twice a year to review the school counseling program audit, goals, and program results and to make recommendations.
The advisory council advocates for the school counseling program and acts as a communications conduit to the community.
Calendars:◦ Master calendar for most recent academic year
including school counseling activities and events for the school counseling program
◦ Two weekly calendars for each school counselor, one for fall and spring including dates and specific information as possible
RAMP Requirements:◦ Master calendar for most recent school year
and two weekly calendars for each counselor◦ Half-page narrative explains the calendar and
how adjustments are made
Understand the achievement gap at the school?
Evaluate school counseling services? Demonstrate school counselor impact and effectiveness?
Inform program improvement? Evaluate the school counseling program annually?
Accountability Audit
Are the school counselors using data to …
Results Report:◦ Results report for the three lessons for the
school counseling program◦ A results report template is available
RAMP Requirements:◦ Results report presents the results of the three
classroom guidance curriculum lessons◦ Half-page narrative addresses how the results
will impact future school counseling activities
Closing the Gap Results Report:◦ Report is tied to the school counseling program
goals and should include objectives, target group, curriculum/materials, activities/interventions, process, perception and results data, implications for the school counseling program and the school
RAMP Requirements:◦ Results report is tied to the school counseling
program goals, and reports exemplary data◦ Half-page narrative addresses how the gap was
identified and why the activities or interventions were chosen as well as next steps
Program Evaluation Reflection:◦ Presents the ways in which the school’s
comprehensive school counseling program use leadership, advocacy and collaboration to create systemic change to make a difference for students
RAMP Requirements:◦ Reflection may be presented in video/audio file
(3-5 minutes) or written (500-1,500 wds)◦ The four elements (leadership, advocacy,
collaboration, systemic change) must be covered