SPARC Evaluation Project

2007 survey results as of 1.22.07

Presented at the Lake Arrowhead “Big Think” Sponsored by California Counselor Leadership Academy (CCLA)

Randy V. Campbell & Kathryn C. Reilly

California State University, Los Angeles

Question 1. What is your job title?

Classified personnel 1 1%Counselor 61 87%Other school administrator 1 1%School Psychologist 1 1%VP of guidance/counseling 3 4%Other 3 4%Total answers: 70 100%

Question 2. Which of the following categories best describes your involvement with the most recent SPARC?

Elementary school 1 1%Middle school 19 27%High school 46 66%Adult/Continuation school 3 4%Other 1 1%Total answers: 70 100%

Question 4. What was the highest outcome of your submission(s)?

Certificate of Commendation 10 14%First Step Award 1 1%Academy Award 22 31%Best in the West 19 27%Diamond 12 17%Don't know 5 7%Never Won Award 1 1%Total answers: 70 99%

Question 5 thru 8. How useful was the SPARC in…

A. the self-evaluation of your student support system?

B. promoting your program to your school administration, school board, community partners, businesses, and parents/guardians?

C. preparing reports for school accreditation, grants, or awards recognition?

D. implementing the ASCA National Standards and/or the National Model for School Counseling Programs?

Question 5 thru 8. How useful was the SPARC in…

Question 5: self-evaluation 36 51% 26 37% 6 9% 2 3%Question 6: promoting program 29 42% 30 43% 9 13% 1 1%Question 7: preparing reports 28 41% 21 31% 11 16% 8 12%Question 8: implementing standards 30 45% 22 33% 11 16% 4 6%

Very Useful Useful Not Useful Don't know

Question 9. Which of the following sections of the SPARC were useful in presenting a self-evaluation of your student support system?

51%

82%89% 92%

83% 78% 77%62%

92%83%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Studen

t Sup

port P

ersonnel T

eam

Schoo

l Clim

ate and Safe

ty

Studen

t Resu

lts

Major Ach

ievement

Measure

ment

Comm

unity P

artners

hips/Res

ources

Volunteer Invo

lvement

Focus f

or Im

prove

men

t

Keeping

you In

form

ed

Not Applicable

Don't Know

No

Yes

Question 10. Which of the following sections of the SPARC did you use to promote your program to your school administration, school board, community partners, businesses, and parent/guardians?

57%

76% 75%87% 85%

70% 68%59%

77% 77%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Student S

upport

Perso

nnel Team

Schoo

l Clim

ate and Safe

ty

Student R

esults

Major Ach

ievement

Measure

ment

Community

Partn

erships/R

esource

s

Volunteer Invo

lvement

Focus f

or Impro

vemen

t

Keeping

you In

formed

Not Applicable

Don't Know

No

Yes

Question 11. Which of the following sections of the SPARC were useful in preparing reports for school accreditation, grants or awards recognition ?

37%

54%62% 66% 66%

59% 55%42%

55% 55%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Stude

nt S

uppor

t Per

sonn

el Tea

m

School

Climate

and

Safet

y

Stude

nt R

esult

s

Majo

r Ach

ievem

ent

Mea

sure

ment

Communit

y Par

tner

ships

/Reso

urces

Volunt

eer I

nvolv

ement

Focus

for I

mprove

men

t

Keepin

g you

Info

rmed

Not Applicable

Don't Know

No

Yes

Question 12. Which of the following sections of the SPARC were useful in implementing the ASCA National Standards and the National Model for School Counseling Programs ?

30%

55%

74% 76%69% 70% 63%

44%

71%

54%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Stude

nt S

uppor

t Per

sonn

el Tea

m

School

Climate

and

Safet

y

Stude

nt R

esult

s

Majo

r Ach

ievem

ent

Mea

sure

ment

Communit

y Par

tner

ships

/Reso

urces

Volunt

eer I

nvolv

ement

Focus

for I

mprove

men

t

Keepin

g you

Info

rmed

Not Applicable

Don't Know

No

Yes

Question 13. Who participated in writing your most recent SPARC ? Please check all that apply.

Career center technician 19Classified staff 30Counselor 60County Office of Education personnel 5Data technician 18Dean 8Graduate student or intern 20Nurse 17Parent 13Principal 42School District personnel 6School Psychologist 19Student Teacher - classroom 2Teacher - special programs 12Vice Principal 18Work experience coordinator 6Other 9

Question 14. Were financial resources provided to complete the SPARC?

Yes18%

No74%

Don't Know8%

Question 15. How do you share the SPARC within your own school? Please check all that apply.

Placed in counseling office 55Mailed to each family 14Posted on parent listserv 12Distributed to every faculty/staff member 35Discussed at faculty/staff meeting 41Posted on school website 31Distributed at PTA Meeting 16Distributed at new student orientation 12Sent in summer mailing/registration packet 11Presented at feeder schools’/articulation meetings 8Other school events (special parent meetings) 20Placed in school library 10Published in newspaper or newsletter (school/PTA) 7Other school events 7Don’t know 1Other 1

Question 16. How do you share the SPARC outside of your own school? Please check all that apply.

Placed in public library 2Posted in city hall 1Shared with city council 8Published in community newspaper/newsletter 5Shared with universities 6Given to all district administration 32Presented at school board meetings 30Discussed with Superintendent 30Posted or linked to district websites 14Posted or linked to county websites 2Distributed to local real estate offices 6Shared with community liaison translators 9Sent to state legislators 14Posted at local youth centers 0Presented at town hall meetings 1Don't know 9Other 4

Question 17. In sharing the SPARC within your own school, have the behaviors/attitudes toward support personnel changed?

Yes45%

No24%

Don’t Know28%

Not Applicable3%

Question 18. If yes, in what ways did the behaviors/attitudes toward support personnel change? Please check all that apply.

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Increased awareness and/orappreciation of student support

services

Helped others better understandthe counselors’ roles

Increased cohesiveness amongstudent support personnel

Provided greater accountability

Other

Number of responses for n=70

Question 19. In sharing the SPARC outside of your own school, have the behaviors/attitudes toward support personnel changed? Please check all that apply.

Yes30%

No16%

Don’t Know54%

Question 20. If yes, in what ways did the behaviors/attitudes toward support personnel change? Please check all that apply.

0 5 10 15 20

Increased involvementby parents

Influenced studentenrollment trends

Provided moreinformation/awareness

Used to recruituniversity interns

Increased recognitionby School Board

Increased involvementby City Council

Increased mediaattention about the

Increased recognitionby other members of

Other

Number of responses for n=70

Question 21. Have the roles and responsibilities of school counselors in your school changed as a result of the SPARC?

Yes44%

No47%

Don’t Know9%

Question 22. If yes, in what ways have the roles and responsibilities of your school counselors changed?

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Improved cohesiveness amongthe student support personnel

Improved collaboration withteachers

Improved collaboration withparents

Improved collaboration withadministration and district

Increased focus onaccountability data (e.g.

Improved knowledge of datacollection techniques and

Focused counselors onachieving national standards

Increased advocacy activities

Other

Number of responses for n=70

Question 23. Did the SPARC assist you in applying for additional funding through Assembly Bill 1802?

Yes22%

No37%

Not Applicable7%

Don’t Know34%