INCORPORATING COLLEGE AND

CAREER READINESS INTO YOUR

SCHOOL COUNSELING
PROGRAM
Carolyn Berger, PH.D.
Nova Southeastern University
cs453@nova.edu

FULL PRESENTATION AVAILABLE AT:

http://bit.ly/ACA2016CCR

Outline
Review of CCR Standards that should be covered in counseling
programs
Resources for Counselor Educators: Sample syllabi, textbook
examples, and class activities
Integration of CCR into Practicum & Internship experiences

Why is incorporating CCR so important?

National initiatives are bringing attention to the school counseling profession as it relates
to CCR (Reach Higher, 2014):

o First Ladys Reach Higher initiative

o Presidents North Star Goal to increase the number of college graduates in the United
States

Workforce is changing and our students must be prepared

o By 2020, 65% of jobs in the nation will require some form of postsecondary education (Center on
Education and the Workforce: https://cew.georgetown.edu/publications/reports/)
o At our current rate of educational attainment, the U.S. will be short 5 million workers for jobs that
require postsecondary credentials by 2020.

Why is incorporating CCR so important?

Improve Equity & Access
Significant gaps for educational attainment across ethnic groups and income levels
(National Center for Education Statistics, 2011):
o

More Asian (90%) and White (71%) students enroll in college immediately after high school in
comparison to Black (63%) or Hispanic (62%) students.

While 84% of youth from high incoming families enroll in college immediately after high
school, only 55% of youth from low income families enroll

Certain minority groups overrepresented in college majors that result in lowest paying
jobs (https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/african-american-majors/)
o

African Americans represent only 7% of STEM majors

20% of African Americans majored in human services and community organization, which
has the second-lowest median earnings at $39,000

Why is incorporating CCR so important?

Research of Counselor Education programs supported the need to
place more attention on equity-based CCR counseling (Perusse,
Poynton, Parzych, and Goodnough, 2014)
Many Counselor Education programs have placed little focus on the
college admissions process (College Board, 2010). Approximately 40
some School Counseling preparation programs have a CCR designated
course in the program of studies.
Perusse et al. recommend that equity-based CCR counseling will
include all eight components outlined by the National Office of School
Counselor Advocacy (College Board, 2010).

CCR Standards for School Counseling

The 2016 CACREP Standards include the Core Career Development Standards:
a. theories and models of career development, counseling, and decision making
b. approaches for conceptualizing the interrelationships among and between work, mental well-being,
relationships, and other life roles and factors
c. processes for identifying and using career, avocational, educational, occupational and labor market
information resources, technology, and information systems
d. approaches for assessing the conditions of the work environment on clients life experiences
e. strategies for assessing abilities, interests, values, personality and other factors that contribute to
career development
f. strategies for career development program planning, organization, implementation, administration,
and evaluation
g. strategies for advocating for diverse clients career and educational development and employment
opportunities in a global economy
h. strategies for facilitating client skill development for career, educational, and life-work planning and
management
i. methods of identifying and using assessment tools and techniques relevant to career planning and
decision making
j. ethical and culturally relevant strategies for addressing career development

CCR Standards for School Counseling

The 2016 CACREP Standards include Entry-Level Specialty Area for School Counseling (section
5.G.):
1) Foundations
c. models of P-12 comprehensive career development
2) Contextual dimensions

b. school counselor roles in consultation with families, P-12 and postsecondary school personnel, and
community agencies
c. school counselor roles in relation to college and career readiness
3) Practice

e. use of developmentally appropriate career counseling interventions and assessments

g. strategies to facilitate school and postsecondary transitions
i. approaches to increase promotion and graduation rates
j. interventions to promote college and career readiness
k. strategies to promote equity in student achievement and college access

Your Own States Standards

Each state also has its own standards for education that relate to CCR

Make sure you meet your state standards that relate to CCR as well

Florida Standard Examples

Knowledge of career development and postsecondary opportunities

Demonstrate knowledge of major career development theories.

Identify school counseling activities related to careers.
Identify decision-making approaches for students in various stages of career development.

Demonstrate knowledge of resources, including assessments, used in career development.

Interpret student assessment data relevant to career development.
Identify appropriate activities for promoting student employability and lifelong learning.

Demonstrate knowledge of resources that provide specific information about educational and
technical career opportunities.
Identify ways to assist students in selecting secondary and postsecondary opportunities.

Demonstrate knowledge of sources of financial assistance for funding educational

opportunities.

Eight Components of College and

Career Readiness Counseling
Developed by the National Office for School Counseling Advocacy through College
Board
The 8 components are a comprehensive, systemic approach for school counselors
use to inspire all students to, and prepare them for college success and
opportunityespecially students from underrepresented populations
(The College Board, 2010)

Eight Components of College and Career

Readiness Counseling
1. College Aspirations

5. College and Career Assessments

2. Academic Planning for College

and Career Readiness

6. College Affordability Planning

3. Enrichment and Extracurricular

Engagement
4. College and Career Exploration
and Selection Processes

7. College and Career Admission

Processes
8. Transition from High School
Graduation to College Enrollment

ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors

All standards can apply to one of three domains: Academic, Career,
Social/Emotional
Career Development Standards guiding school counseling programs to
help students

1) understand the connection between school and the world of work

and
2) plan for and make a successful transition from school to postsecondary
education and/or the world of work and from job to job across the life
span.
(ASCA, 2016)

ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors

35 Standards the fall within Mindset standards or Behavior Standards
Mindset Standards
1. Belief in development of whole self, including a healthy balance of mental,
social/emotional and physical well-being
2. Self-confidence in ability to succeed
3. Sense of belonging in the school environment

4. Understanding that postsecondary education and life-long learning are necessary for
long-term career success
5. Belief in using abilities to their fullest to achieve high-quality results and outcomes

6. Positive attitude toward work and learning

(ASCA, 2016)

ASCA
Mindsets
&
Behaviors

NCDA Career Counseling Standards

NCDAs Career Development Policy Statement (2011)
General statements of what should be covered
within each grade level
http://www.ncda.org/aws/NCDA/pt/fli/4728/false
National Career Development Guidelines (2004)
http://www.ncda.org/aws/NCDA/pt/fli/23590/false
Not divided up by age, very comprehensive

Phew thats a lot to cover!

Blended career courses with other counseling disciplines can
make covering these standards challenging
Impossible to fit it all in one course!

Ideas to make covering all these standards more feasible?

Revamping Career Development course
Separate modules/activities/assignments for different
counseling disciplines
Imbedding CCR throughout curriculum Ideas for courses
where topics could be covered?

Resources for Counselor Educators

Sample Syllabi
NSUs Career Development & College Planning course syllabus:
http://bit.ly/nsuCCRsyllabus
UNFs College & Career Readiness course syllabus:
http://bit.ly/unfCCRsyllabus
UNFs Career Advisement Internship course syllabus:
http://bit.ly/unfCareerInternship

Helpful Textbooks
General CCR Focus/Comprehensive Texts:
Curry, J. & Milsom, A. (2014). Career Counseling in P-12 Schools.
Sharf, Richard S. (2010). Applying career development theory to counseling. (5th ed)

Texts focused on equity and access:

Savitz-Romer, M. & Bouffard, S. M. (2012). Reading, willing, and able: A developmental approach to
college access and success.
Putnam, R. D. (2015). Our kids: the American dream in crisis.
High school focused texts:
Conley, D. T. (2010). College and career ready: Helping all students succeed beyond high school.

Fitzpatrick, C. & Costantini, K. (2011). Counseling 21st century students for optimal college and
career readiness: A 9th-12th grade curriculum.
Financial Aid Focused Texts:
Chany, K. & Martz, G. (2015). Paying for college without going broke.

Utilizing Local Resources

Link students to local resources
Consider businesses including banks and other employers of your
graduates
Involve local universities and state/community colleges
Involve local school counselors and district supervisors
Request special guests to speak about local resources
Possibly schedule for students to access trainings on topics such as using the
state or district adopted CCR online programs
Our students have attended trainings on:
Florida Shines: https://www.floridashines.org/
Student Navigator: Plan Your Future. Broward County Public Schools
Naviance

Utilizing Local Resources

Look at local data compared to national average and other
states: http://datacenter.kidscount.org/

Local Resources: Sample Guest

Speakers
January 11: School District Supervisors; K-12 Career
Education curriculum and materials used in the district
January 25: Wells Fargo-Financial Literacy; Financial Literacy
curriculum and materials that are used in schools
February 1: DOE-Student Financial Assistance Office; FAFSAchallenging issues when working with 12 grade
students/families to complete FAFSA (e.g., homeless,
stepfamily, one parent, independent)
February 29: School district choice programs staff;
Acceleration Programs in the school district (e.g., Cambridge,
IB, Early College)

March 7: Researcher to present on relevant topics; Dr.

Strickland reports research findings for Gen Y and
application to CCR
April 4: Local state (community) colleges; Various
postsecondary programs at Florida State College
Jacksonville that range from certificate programs, CTE
programs, associates, and four year
April 11: First Coast Manufacturing Association;
internships provided through various manufacturing
businesses in Jacksonville
April 18: CSX-Executive VP; Work-ready skills that business
seeks in employees and expectations of workers in the
work place

What Works Clearinghouse:

College/Career Prep Guide
http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/topic.aspx?sid=2

NOSCA Guides
NOSCAs Elementary, Middle, & High School Guides:

Elementary: https://securemedia.collegeboard.org/digitalServices/pdf/advocacy/nosca/11b4383_ES_Counselor_Guide_WEB_120213.pdf
Middle: https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/digitalServices/pdf/advocacy/nosca/11b4382_MS_Counselor_Guide_WEB_120213.pdf
High: https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/digitalServices/pdf/nosca/11b4151_HS_Counselor_Guide_web.pdf

NOSCA Component Activity

World of Work Resources

Resources for Exploring the World of Work:
Bureau of Labor Statistics: http://www.bls.gov/k12/
College Board: https://www.collegeboard.org/
On Net On Line: www.onetonline.org

Americas Career InfoNet: http://www.acinet.org/acinet/

Americas Job Bank: http://www.AJB.dni.us/
Career Resource Center: http://www.careers.org/

Military Career Guide: http://www.militarycareers.com/

Occupational Outlook Handbook: http://www.bls.gov/ooh/
The Occupational Information Network (O*Net): http://www.doleta.gov/programs/onet/

My Skills-My Future: www.mynextmove.org/

World of Work Activity

Activity for Exploring the World of Work: http://bit.ly/labormarketactivity
Use the resources listed above to help you work with the following student:

Emma is a 7th grade student who recently participated in a College and Career Readiness
counseling activity in her Career & Education planning course. She took an interest inventory and
explored her personal values as they relate to her future career options. She decided she wants to
pursue a STEM career because she likes science and math. However, she doesnt know much
about STEM careers. She has heard of engineering and thinks it sounds interesting, but wants to
know what her other options are for careers in science and math.
Find a list of STEM careers and help Emma narrow it down to five that interest her. Help her fill out
the table with the following information:

Occupation

Job Outlook

Median Wages

Education
Required

On the job tasks

Skills required

Career Assessment Resources

Ability & Aptitude Assessment Links
Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)- grades 10-12, 3
hours, 8 scales of academic and vocational topics
Campbell Interest and Skill Survey (CISS)- interests and skills in 7 scales,
age 15+, 30 minutes
Differential Aptitude Test (DAT)- 8 aptitudes, 3 hours, 2 forms, grades 712
Self-Directed Search (SDS)- interests and skills aligned with Holland
codes, 20 minutes, MS & HS grades

Career Assessment Resources

Attitudes, Beliefs, & Readiness Assessment Links
Career Beliefs Inventory (CBI)- 96 items, grades 8-12, 5 categories,
(e.g. Factors that influence my decisions)
Career Decision Making Self-Efficacy Scale (CDSE)- long or short
forms, high school, 5 broad areas (e.g., self-appraisal)
Career Development Inventory (CDI)- 80 items, four aspects of career
maturity (e.g., career planning), 1 hour, high school
Career Thoughts Inventory (CTI)- 48 items, 3 scales (e.g.,
commitment anxiety), high school
College Going Self-Efficacy Scale (CGSES)- 30 items, measures
beliefs about college attendance and persistence, MS and HS

Career Assessment Resources

Interest inventories
Campbell Interest and Skill Survey (CISS)- see earlier slide
Pictorial Inventory of Careers (PIC)- watch videos to determine how
much they like a career, 22 minutes, MS and HS
Reading-Free Vocational Interest Inventory-2 (R-FVII2)- circle pictures
to indicate whether they like a certain occupation, 20 min, ages 13+,
good with ESE students
Self-Directed Search (SDS) see earlier slide
Strong Interest Inventory (SII)- based on Hollands 6 occupational
themes, 45 minutes, ages 14+

Career Assessment Resources

Personality assessment
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)- measures personality
across 4 dimension: extra/introversion, sensing/intuition,
thinking/feeling, and judging/perceiving, 30 minutes, high
school

Values assessment
Life Values Inventory (LVI)- 42 items, 14 values, 20
minutes, high school

Career Assessment Resources

Comprehensive online systems (these include different
assessments)
Kuder Career Planning System- replaced Florida Choices- read
info on FL Virtual Campus website
Career Key- based on Holland, MS and HS, take assessment on
interests and can then search online for occupations that
match
DISCOVER- by ACT, MS and HS, UNIACT interest inventory, skill
and values assessment (self-report), students can explore
occupational info and majors
EXPLORE- by ACT, assesses academics and also career
interests, grades 8-9, provided info about careers; NOTE:
Explore is no longer available and is being replaced by ACT
Aspire

Career Assessment Resources

Informal assessments- Usually no reliability/validity data, not
normed, often free or inexpensive
Card Sorts- cards with words or pictures and a longer description on
back- students organize cards in piles to indicate their level of interest;
no one way for counselors to use
Career Genograms- explore family relationships as they relate to
careers/colleges and may explore employment or educational history
of relatives
Career Style Interview (CSI)- Savickas Career Construction Theorysubjective experiences help students make sense of CCR issues; asks
questions about hobbies, interests, role models, etc.

Career Assessment Assignment

Activity description:
Write a Student Career Assessment Paper which will summarize your
experiences conducting career assessments with a middle or high school
student. The purpose of this project is for school counselor candidates to
apply college/career assessments, career development theories, and CCR
curriculum planning with a student. Candidates will reflect on this experience
to make plans for improving their CCR counseling work.
(see http://bit.ly/nsuCCRsyllabus for more information, including a rubric)

Career
Assessment
Activity

Resources for Creating a College-Going

Culture
PowerPoint presentation: Working Systemwide to Raise College Aspirations
http://bit.ly/CGCpresentation
PPT includes ideas for creating a College Going Culture in grades PK-12
College Boards Creating a College Going Culture:
http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/collegeed/collegeEd-create-collegegoing-culture.pdf

45 ways to create a CGC:

http://eao.arizona.edu/sites/eao.arizona.edu/files/45ways.pdf
Creating a CGC for ELL students: http://www.colorincolorado.org/article/creatingcollege-going-culture-english-language-learners

College-Going Culture Sample

Assignment
This activity will help you synthesize much of what we have read, heard, researched,
experienced, and discussed throughout this course about college and career readiness.
Creating a college-going culture is planned intentionally and thoughtfully, with research to
support efforts. You will want to use references to support your responses, and do follow APA
style for the body of text and reference page.
Select a level (elementary, middle or high school). Appoint yourself the school counselor for
the school level you select. (Congratulations on your position!) Craft a college and career
program for your school. Structuring the program by grade level with appropriate activities
will be a helpful organizer. You will want to cite literature that supports what you are doing
and the rationale for why your plan will create a CG Culture. As part of the CG Culture, be
sure your program is culturally competent and includes families of your students.
(see syllabus: http://bit.ly/unfCCRsyllabus)

Resources for Helping Students Choose

a College
College Board: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/find-colleges/how-find-your-college-fit

NCES: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
State resources: http://www.flbog.edu/ (FL State University Systems)
Petersons: https://www.petersons.com/college-search/how-to-choose-a-college.aspx

ACT: http://www.actstudent.org/college/choosing.html
College Scorecard: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/
NACAC: http://www.nacacnet.org/studentinfo/articles/Pages/Before-You-Apply.aspx

Activity: Helping Student Choose a

College
Sample case scenario for class discussion activity:

You are working with a 10th grade student named Alejandra whose family emigrated from Columbia
when she was three years old. Alejandra is a citizen of the U.S.; however, no one in her family has
gone to college in the U.S. and her family does not understand the U.S. college system at all.
Alejandra states that her family will not let her move away from home until she is married. She is
strongly connected to her family and is concerned that going to college will separate her from her
family. Alejandra does not know what she wants to major in, but she is interested in a career as an
immigration attorney.
This student needs help deciding on colleges where she should apply. Utilize Savitz & Bouffard (Ch.
4) plus website resources in this weeks Blackboard module to help you discuss this topic with your
peers. In your discussion, answer the following questions:
1) How can you help this student deal with her identify conflicts as it relates to going to college?
2) How would you help the student narrow down her top college choices?

Resources for Specific Populations

LGBTQ Friendly Colleges & Student Resources:
http://www.affordablecollegesonline.org/lgbtq-college-student-guide/
Hispanic Student Resources:

Financial Aid resources for Hispanic students

Hispanic Scholarship Fund
Online guide for Hispanic students: affordability
Hispanic Assn of Colleges & Universities
HISPA

Resources for Specific Populations

African American Student Resources:

HBCU list
HBCU Network
Scholarships
Resources for African American students (and other underrepresented populations)
Look into local programs- examples include: Trio, Upward Bound,
Rites of Passage- youth development program

Example program in NYC

Link to article about ROP

Resources for Specific Populations

Native American Student Resources:

Striving to Achieve (NCSL Publication)

Scholarships/grants

Know about financial aid opportunities

American Indian College Fund

Native American Student Advocacy Institute (College Board)

Resources for Specific Populations

Exceptional Student Education Student Resources:
Find programs supported by local colleges/universities
Example: USFs Stages program

Connect students with disabilities offices at postsecondary institutions (ex:

Broward College)
Educate students on rights and responsibilities (see article at ed.gov)
List of helpful websites
Career Guidance & Exploration Links

Resources for Specific Populations

English Language Learners
NYC Resources for ELL
Create a College Going Culture for ELL Students
Undocumented students
http://sites.ed.gov/hispanic-initiative/graduate-financial-aid-guide-to-success/
http://www.thedream.us/
Florida Immigrant Coalition
Broward College Out-of-State Fee Waiver
Finaid.org link
College Board link
Big Future (College Board) link- see resources at bottom of page
US News article

Resources for Specific Populations

Resources for girls/women:

Successful women engineers

STEM careers link see info related to girls

See a lot of great links on the White Houses page for Women in STEM

Tips for encouraging girls to pursue STEM careers

Resources for encouraging girls to pursue STEM

Women of tomorrow

Activity/Discussions for Working with

Specific Populations
What are some things you would need to do to make sure youre meeting the needs
of minority, at-risk, and underserved populations as it relates to CCR?
Choose a specific population discussed. Partner with a peer and come up with ideas
for interventions that will help target CCR needs of these students.

Financial Aid Resources

http://www.financialaidtoolkit.ed.gov/tk/resources.jsp
http://www.finaid.org/

https://fafsa.ed.gov/
http://www.fastweb.com/
http://collegecost.ed.gov/netpricecenter.aspx

http://sites.ed.gov/hispanic-initiative/graduate-financial-aid-guide-to-success/

Financial Aid:
Guest Speakers & Field Experiences
See local resources/guest speakers slide
Field experiences to help students learn about
financial aid
http://bit.ly/unfFinAidexperiences
http://bit.ly/unfCCRexperiences

Extracurricular Resources
College Board article on extracurricular activities:
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-started/outside-theclassroom/extracurriculars-matter-to-you-and-to-colleges

Huffpost College Article: What Do Colleges Want?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marjorie-hansenshaevitz/extra-curricular-activities-collegeadmission_b_3040217.html

Transitioning Resources
Elementary to Middle School:
GA Guide: https://www.gadoe.org/School-Improvement/FederalPrograms/Documents/Parent%20Engagement/Final%20Middle%20School%20Transi
tion%20Toolkit.pdf
NASP Article:
http://www.nppsd.org/vimages/shared/vnews/stories/525d81ba96ee9/Tr%20%20Transition%20from%20Eleemntary%20to%20Middle%20School.pdf
NC guide:
http://crocscounselorconnection.weebly.com/uploads/8/2/9/9/8299455/transition
_guide_6_graders.pdf
http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/school/middleschool/

Transitioning Resources
Middle School to High School
NC guide:
http://ashleymmatthews.weebly.com/uploads/2/9/6/6/2966646/transition_guid
e_8th_graders.pdf
National HS Guide: http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED501073.pdf

High School to College

College Board website: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/find-colleges/campuslife
Summer Melt (10-20% students who are accepted never enroll; most low income)
http://sdp.cepr.harvard.edu/files/cepr-sdp/files/sdp-summer-melt-handbook.pdf
http://blog.ed.gov/2013/07/summer-melt/

Sharing Out
What are some creative and innovative ways you cover CCR in your
program?

Summary
There are a LOT of helpful resources!

Important to consider how you will structure your program to cover CCR, and then
imbed these resources throughout your curriculum
Dont stop at a CCR course; consider imbedding in classes like Multicultural,
Exceptional Students, Prac/Internship, and more
Please contact me with questions at cs453@nova.edu

References

American School Counselor Association (2016). ASCA Mindsets and Behaviors. ASCA: Alexandria, VA.

Carnevale, A.P., Smith, N., & Strohl, J. (June 2010). Help wanted: Projections of jobs and education
requirements through 2018. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Center on Education and the
Workforce

Chany, K. & Martz, G. (2015). Paying for college without going broke. Natick, MA: The Princeton Review.

The College Board (2010). The College Board National Office for School Counselor Advocacy: Eight
components of college and career readiness counseling. Retrieved from https://securemedia.collegeboard.org/digitalServices/pdf/nosca/11b_4416_8_Components_WEB_111107.pdf

Conley, D. T. (2010). College and career ready: Helping all students succeed beyond high school. San
Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Curry, J. & Milsom, A. (2014). Career Counseling in P-12 Schools. New York, NY: Springer Publishing.

Fitzpatrick, C. & Costantini, K. (2011). Counseling 21st century students for optimal college and career
readiness: A 9th-12th grade curriculum. New York, NY: Taylor & Francis.

Putnam, R. D. (2015). Our kids: the American dream in crisis. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster.

Savitz-Romer, M. & Bouffard, S. M. (2012). Reading, willing, and able: A developmental approach to college
access and success. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Education Press.

Sharf, Richard S. (2010). Applying career development theory to counseling. (5th ed.). Belmont, CA:
Thomson Brooks/Cole.

Thank you for coming!!

Full presentation accessible at:

http://bit.ly/ACA2016CCR
Feel free to contact Carolyn Berger at cs453@nova.edu