The Ultimate School Counselor's Guide to Assessment and Data Collection - by Sandra Logan-McKibben & Jenna Marie Alvarez (Paperback)

About the Book

"The first edition of The Ultimate School Counselor's Guide to Assessment and Data Collection has come to fruition out of the professional observations and experiences of the authors and those that they have supervised and trained. What is highlighted in the field and supported by research is that school counselors-in-training are not getting adequate knowledge and training in assessment and data collection relevant to their specialty area. While counselor preparation programs frequently require a course in counseling assessment, school counselors-in-training often report dissatisfaction in the relevance of what is covered, as the content is not focused on what school counselors actually see and use in practice. Further, practicing school counselors often express confusion in not knowing what assessments may be best suited to the work, which could be related to lack of knowledge or lack of accessibility of such instruments. Prior to this book, no resource existed that focuses on the concept of assessment specifically for school counselors and provides them with formal and informal assessments that provide opportunities for data collection that, in turn, informs one's data-driven, CSCP. Whether it be individual student data, school level data, school counseling program level data, or about the school counselors' practices or beliefs, this professional resource offers a unique opportunity to meet the call from school counseling professionals to have guidance and access to instruments that focus on multiple levels of data"--

Book Synopsis

Showcases assessments that specifically support the unique work of school counselors!

Written specifically for school counselors and those in training, this is the first book to highlight the use of assessment and data collection to effectively advocate for student success. It bridges the gap in relevant knowledge and skills by not only delineating the requirements for formulating a data-driven approach, but also presenting actual assessments that can immediately be implemented. Underscoring the professional and ethical responsibilities of practicing school counselors to be data-driven, the book delivers the guidance and instruments needed to access multiple levels of data. This includes individual student data, school-level data, school counseling program-level data, or data regarding the school counselors' practices or beliefs.

This practical, user-friendly book is organized step-by-step, starting with foundational knowledge and progressing towards application. It introduces readers to both formal and informal assessments and provides examples of how to integrate assessments within comprehensive school counseling programs (CSCP). It addresses a variety of approaches to assessments and data collection across the domains of academic, career, and social-emotional development, and examines needs assessment and program evaluation to drive the development and implementation of a CSCP. Additionally, the resource explains each type of data, reinforced with examples across domains and school levels. Also included are technology tools that can aid in the assessment and data collection process as well as accountability reporting.

Key Features:

• Provides specific, concrete steps for using assessment and data collection to advocate for student success and develop effective CSCPs
• Includes examples of data collection tools, assessments, charts, tables, and illustrations
• Delivers hands-on application tasks throughout
• Delineates valid and reliable instruments to bolster effectiveness
• Includes downloadable appendix with formal assessments and templates to complete tasks described throughout the text