How can school counselors support large-scale postsecondary and career-readiness initiatives? While schools and districts want to use personalized learning or individualized learning plans as a way to align students' school experiences to their postsecondary and career goals, schools may lack the human capital to support and guide this endeavor.…

In most states, educator evaluation systems are moving toward more frequent and focused evaluations that include educators' contributions to student outcomes such as learning growth. Many states include "Specialized Instructional Support Personnel" (SISP) in their educator evaluation systems, but the measures and methods used to evaluate…

Objective: Various factors contribute to the effective implementation of evidence-based treatments (EBTs). In this study, cognitive processing therapy (CPT) was administered in a Veterans Affairs (VA) posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) specialty clinic in which training and supervision were provided following VA implementation guidelines. The…

Describes role of inadequate construct definition in the current problems involving measurement of counseling performance and suggests potential responses for improving measurement capability. Identifies primary task at hand to be deciding upon and describing constructs to measure. (Author/NB)

This article focuses on a few of the criteria that principals consider in the evaluation of school guidance personnel. (Author)

A Wisconsin study reveals that most school counselors are evaluated at least annually but that inappropriate evaluation criteria are applied. Recommendations include developing a clear policy, establishing a task force (composed of administrators, counselors, and others) to review existing criteria and procedures, and implementing any new plan on…

Compared the effects of tentative and absolute interpretations and two relatively noninterpretive counselor responses (summarization and restatement) while holding constant discrepancy and content of interpretation. Results from the ratings of undergraduate students (N=163) showed that counselors delivering tentative interpretations were not rated…

A need for evaluation standards for elementary and secondary counselors and guidance programs exists. Guidelines for evaluation should answer the questions: a) what is the purpose of evaluation; b) how should the evaluation be made and by whom, and c) what specific phases of evaluation should be encouraged by counselors. (CG)

A method for evaluating counselors is suggested. The professional counselor should prepare materials suitable for questionnaires and interviews which will be responded to by faculty, administrators and students. The results can then be summarized and discussed with the counselor. (CG)

A limited study was conducted, asking counseling psychologists why they did not research the effectiveness of their counseling. The reasons given for failing to investigate effectiveness were: (1) methodological and criteria problems seemed unsolvable; (2) anxiety existed about discovering a lack of professional competence; (3) the intricacy of…

After reviewing the role of the school counselor, methods of evaluation, and criteria for measurment of effectiveness, this article provides recommendations for improving the counselor's productivity. (DS)

Recent research has shown that when subjects are asked to make a judgment or decision based on incomplete information, they may infer or impute a value for the missing information based on their perception of the relationship between the missing and the presented information. To examine how clients evaluate and choose between therapists on the…

This digest identifies the issues which must be addressed to make instruments and procedures for assessing school counselor performance efficient, fair, valid, and useful. (BH)

Three methods and several implementations of each by which school counselors might evaluate their own competence and that of colleagues are suggested. The methods include: 1) practitioners should be involved in the training effort; 2) practicing counselors should be their own evaluators; and 3) creation of ethnic and standard committees.…

The practicing counselor must be evaluated through a special approach which takes into consideration all relevant elements such as the professional service aspect, the academic criteria, and the financial criteria emphasized by industry. (Author)