School counseling program goals define how the vision and mission will be accomplished. They are the basis of the core curriculum, small group, and closing the gap lesson and action plans.

The goals promote achievement, attendance, and behavior.

Core Curriculum goals relate to serving a general population, with the aim of overall improvement in some area. For example, improving school climate, increasing the number of students who apply for FAFSA, etc. After reviewing your school data, select the areas that needs to be addressed. The data for Core Curriculum goals will be whole school rates, or large group rates. The goal will be stated in terms of comparing baseline rate to the rate at a later date.

Small Group goals relate to serving targeted populations. These may be viewed as “responsive services.” Students are identified using data, such as: “students who failed one or more core courses last semester,” or “students who have been suspended at least twice in the previous year,” or “students who have been absent 5 or more times by the end of the first semester.  The relevant data is data on specific targeted students. These goals are written in terms of the number/percent of these targeted students who have a better outcome after small group services.

Closing the Gap goals relate to serving a demographically identifiable group, which the data show need a service. For example, data may show that high scoring minority students are not enrolling in rigorous courses. Or, low-income high achieving students are not completing FAFSA.  The relevant data for these goals is both demographic data and some achievement or behavior data.

There is only one Narrative for the goals submitted to RAMP. You combine all your goals into one document for RAMP. They are kept separate here for ease of planning and understanding.