DAR File No. 30089

Education, Administration

R277-462

Comprehensive Guidance Program

NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE

DAR File No.: 30089
Filed: 06/14/2007, 03:24
Received by: NL

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

This rule is amended to provide for a funding process consistent with Subsection 53A-17a-113(5) for Comprehensive Guidance programs.

Summary of the rule or change:

The amended rule provides terminology changes and provides criteria for awarding grants to school districts and charter schools.

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

Subsections 53A-1a-106(2)(b) and 53A-1-401(3)

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

There are no anticipated costs or savings to the state budget. Specific funding has been provided for grant recipients.

local governments:

There may be some costs to schools/school districts because all grant recipients must provide an equal amount of matching funds to receive a grant. Costs to recipients are too speculative to calculate at this time.

other persons:

There are no anticipated costs or savings to other persons. Grant recipients are public schools/school districts.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

There may be some compliance costs to schools/school districts because all grant recipients must provide an equal amount of matching funds to receive a grant. Costs to potential recipients are too speculative to calculate at this time.

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

I have reviewed this rule and I see no fiscal impact on businesses. Patti Harrington, State Superintendent of Public Instruction

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:

Education
Administration
250 E 500 S
SALT LAKE CITY UT 84111-3272

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

Carol Lear at the above address, by phone at 801-538-7835, by FAX at 801-538-7768, or by Internet E-mail at carol.lear@schools.utah.gov

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

07/31/2007

This rule may become effective on:

08/07/2007

Authorized by:

Carol Lear, Director, School Law and Legislation

R277. Education, Administration.

R277-462. Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance Program.

R277-462-1. Definitions.

A. "ATE Consortium" means representatives of nine ATE Regional Planning Areas.

B. "Board" means the Utah State Board of Education and Applied Technology Education.

C. "Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance Program" means the organization of resources to meet the priority needs of students through four delivery system components:

(1) guidance curriculum which means providing guidance content to all students in a systematic way;

(2) student educational and occupational planning component which means individualized education and career planning with all students;

(3) responsive services component designed to meet the immediate concerns of certain students; and

(4) system support component which addresses management of the Program and the needs of the school system itself.

D. "Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance Steering and Advisory Committee" means representatives of district counseling supervisors, district ATE directors, PTA, the school counselor professional association, and practicing school counselors.

E. "Direct services" means time spent on the guidance curriculum, individual student planning, including SEOP, and responsive services activities meeting students' identified needs as discerned by students, school personnel and parents consistent with district policy.

F. "SEOP" means student education occupation plans and processes.

G. "Student achievement" means academic performance, career development, personal/social development, retention, attendance, SEOP outcomes and other measures of adequate yearly progress.

H. "USOE" means the Utah State Office of Education.

I. "WPU" means weighted pupil unit, the basic unit used to calculate the amount of state funds for which a school district or charter school is eligible.

 

R277-462-2. Authority and Purpose.

A. This rule is authorized by Utah Constitution Article X, Section 3 which vests general control and authority over public education in the Board, by Section 53A-1a-106(2)(b) which directs local boards to develop policies for the implementation of student education plans (SEP) or SEOPs, and by Section 53A-1-401(3) which allows the Board to adopt rules in accordance with its responsibilities.

B. This rule establishes standards and procedures for entities applying for funds appropriated for Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance Programs administered by the Board.

 

R277-462-3. Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance Program Approval and Qualifying Criteria.

A. Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance disbursement criteria:

(1) In order to qualify for Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance Program funds, schools shall implement SEOP policies and practices, consistent with Section 53A-1a-106(2)(b), local board or charter school governing board policy, and the school improvement plan developed for Northwest Accreditation.

(2) Each school, including charter schools, which has a USOE-approved Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance Program shall receive a base of 6 WPU for the first 400 students as determined by the October 1 enrollment of the previous fiscal year, and a per student allotment, as funds are available, for each additional student beyond 400, capping at a maximum 1200 students.

(3) Priority for funding shall be given for grades nine through twelve for ATE programs including the Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance Program and any remaining funds shall be allocated to grades seven and eight for the schools which meet Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance Program standards. Funds directed to grades seven and eight shall be distributed according to the formula under R277-462-3A(2) following the distribution of funds for grades nine through twelve.

(4) The charter school or school district Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance Program shall be integrated into the mission of the school and be consistent with the Northwest Accreditation process as defined in R277-413, Accreditation of Secondary Schools, Alternative or Special Purpose Schools. School counselors shall provide evidence that the Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance Program contributes to student achievement included in the local school improvement plan developed as part of the Northwest Accreditation process.

(5) Schools shall qualify to receive Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance Program funds through participation in a regular schedule of on-site review by team members designated by the district or charter school. Scheduling of the on-site review process shall be coordinated with the Northwest Accreditation process for secondary schools as defined in R277-413 and shall, at a minimum, take place every three years. Successful on-site reviews of the Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance Program shall indicate a balance of activities in individual student planning, guidance curriculum, responsive services and system support.

(6) Consistent with Section 53A-17a-113(5) of the monies allocated to Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance Programs, $1,000,000 in grants shall be awarded to school districts and charter schools that:

(a) provide an equal amount of matching funds; and

(b) do not supplant other funds used for Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance Programs; and

(c) show effort to make the counselor to student ratio for Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance Programs no greater than one counselor for every 350 students.

(7) Districts and charter schools shall include in their annual Request for Proposal to the USOE for Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance Program funds a description of sources for the matching funds and a confirmation that such monies shall be used to reduce counselor to student ratios or maximize direct services to students by school counselors.

([6]8) Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance Program funds shall be distributed to districts for schools within the district or charter schools that have completed a regular schedule of on-site reviews and that meet all of the following criteria:

(a) Approval of the Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance Program by the local board of education or charter school governing board and on-going communication with the local or governing board regarding Program goals and outcomes supported by data;

(b) Regular participation of guidance team members in USOE sponsored Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance training;

(c) Adequate resources and support for guidance facilities, material, equipment, clerical support, and school improvement processes;

(d) Evidence that eighty percent of aggregate counselors time is devoted to DIRECT service to students through a balanced program of individual planning, guidance curriculum, and responsive services consistent with the results of the school needs data;

(e) Communication, collaboration, and coordination within the feeder system regarding the Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance Program;

(f) School-wide student/parent/teacher needs assessment data for the Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance Program gathered and analyzed at least every three years;

(g) Structures and processes to ensure effective Program management including advisory and steering committees functioning effectively, school counselors working as Program leaders, and the Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance Program contributing to school improvement teams;

(h) Responsive services are available to address the immediate concerns and identified needs of all students through an education-oriented and programmatic approach, and in collaboration with existing school programs and coordination with family, school and community resources;

(i) Delivery to students of a developmental and sequential guidance curriculum in harmony with content standards identified in the Utah model for the Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance Program. Guidance curriculum is prioritized according to the results of the school needs assessment process;

(j) Assistance for students in career development, including awareness and exploration, job seeking and finding skills, and post high school placement;

(k) Establishment of Student Education Occupation Planning (SEOP), both as a process and a product consistent with local board or charter school governing board policy and goals of the Utah Model for Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance Program, Northwest Accreditation, R277-413, and Applied Technology Education, R277-911; and

(l) All Program elements are designed to recognize and address the diverse needs of every student.

B. All districts may qualify schools for the Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance Program funds and districts and charter school governing boards shall certify in writing that all Program standards are being met by each school receiving funds under this rule and meet the following deadlines:[

(1)] The "Form for Program Approval" shall be received by the USOE from schools scheduled for review in the three year cycle no later than May 1 of each year for disbursement of funds the next year.[

(2) Programs approved and forms submitted by December 20 of each year MAY be considered for partial disbursement, if funds are available.]

 

R277-462-4. Use of Funds.

A. Funds disbursed for this Program shall be used by the district in the district secondary schools in grades seven through twelve to provide a guidance curriculum and an SEOP for each student at the school, to provide responsive services, and to provide system support for the Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance Program. Such costs may include the following:

(1) personnel costs;

(2) career center equipment such as computers, or media equipment;

(3) career center materials such as computer software, occupational information, SEOP folders, and educational information;

(4) in-service training of personnel involved in the Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance Program;

(5) extended day or year if REQUIRED to run the Program; and

(6) guidance curriculum materials for use in classrooms.

B. Funds shall not be used for non-guidance purposes or to supplant funds already being provided for the Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance Program except that:

(1) Districts or charter schools may pay for the costs incurred in hiring NEW personnel as a means of reducing the pupil/counselor ratio and eliminating time spent on non-guidance activities in order to meet the Program criteria.

(2) Districts or charter schools may pay other costs associated with a Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance Program which were incurred as a part of the Program during the implementation phase but which WERE NOT a regular part of the Program prior to that time.

 

R277-462-5. Variances and Reporting.

A. New schools that are created from schools that have Northwest accreditation and USOE Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance Program approval may qualify for Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance Program funding under this rule in the schools' first year of operation.

B. Charter schools and other new schools not meeting the requirements of R277-462-5A may receive [c]Comprehensive Counseling and [g]Guidance [p]Program funding following two years of planning, training and program implementation.

C. The USOE shall monitor the Program and provide an annual report on its progress and success.

D. Districts or charter schools shall certify on an annual basis that previously qualified schools continue to meet the Program criteria and provide the USOE with data and information on the Program as[ required or] requested.

 

KEY: public education, counselors

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: [February 5, 2004]2007

Notice of Continuation: September 7, 2004

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: Art X Sec 3; 53A-15-201; 53A-17a-131.8