CURRICULUM
The school counseling curriculum is based on a needs assessment of the student population served by the school counseling program. The curriculum is delivered to all students and supports the goals of the district’s strategic plan for students’ academic improvement. The curriculum promotes instruction that addresses the three primary domains of human growth and development: academic, career and personal/social. New Haven Public Schools Counseling Department is in the process of collecting, and publishing a shared library of developmental lessons and counselor resources that align with the student competencies outlined in the Comprehensive School Counseling Program.
The curriculum component:
The curriculum component:
- Is planned and personalized to meet the identified needs of the school community;
- Is ongoing and systematic in delivery;
- Includes a clear explanation of the scope and sequence of its units of instruction;
- Clearly outlines the goals and competencies students will achieve at each grade level; and
- Indicates the methods and timelines for delivery of units of instruction to each grade.
INDIVIDUAL STUDENT PLANNING
The school counseling program provides ongoing systematic activities and services to help all students in developing, monitoring and evaluating their own academic, personal and career goals. There is a systematic delivery of individual student planning sessions to all students appropriate to their age and grade level on an annual basis beginning in the upper elementary grades and continuing through the high school years. Individual Planning is a direct service to all students with a primary focus on academic advisement and progress, course planning, transitions, goal setting, and future planning. Beginning in middle school and continuing into Grade 12, these sessions result in Student Success Plans for each student through the collaborative efforts of school counselors, the advisor-advisee system, teachers and administrators.
RESPONSIVE SERVICES
Responsive Services provide support to meet the immediate needs of student. Consultation and collaboration (with teachers, parents, administrators, SW, SP, etc.) are an essential part of this component. Planning and Placement Teams and 504 Plan Facilitation are designed for students with specific needs and fall under the Responsive Service component. The procedures, activities and services of the New Haven school counseling program ensure appropriate and timely response to academic, career and personal/social concerns.
- Intervention services are delivered through individual and/or group counseling.
- Prevention and intervention services are delivered in collaboration with teachers, administrators and student services staff.
- The consultation process is used by school counselors to share and exchange information to help students succeed in their academic, career and personal/social development.
- Participation on school based teams with other specialists and/or community professionals as a means for school counselors to identify services for students in need.
COLLABORATION AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Collaboration and Community Involvement is non-direct services to students. School counselors contribute to the school community through the following activities:
- Parent conferences/contacts.
- Parent workshops and trainings.
- College/career fairs & College tours.
- Collaboration with community leaders to identify resources for student development and interventions.
- Working with teachers, administrators, and parents regarding student needs.
- Provision of professional development and information to faculty and staff on student related issues.
- Leadership on school improvement committees to identify student needs and resources.
- Communication of program goals, outcomes, activities and services to all constituents served by the school
- Counseling program; and using the comprehensive school counseling program as a vehicle to promote connections with the community.