Meetings
- Indiana Professional Standards Board
- External Committee for School Counselors
- November 1, 2000
Members Present: Brad Balch, Mark Scalan, Bryan Wright, Peggy Hines, Nellie Moore, Tom Keller, Charlene Alexander, Shawn Sriver, Kay Schrader, Mike Horvath, Rex Stockton, Lin Metzger, Susie Matzat
Member Absent: Sue Reynolds
Others: Kelly Dunn, Joe Weaver
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The External Committee for School Counselors of the Indiana Professional Standards Board convened at 9:00 a.m. on November 1, 2000, at the Wayne Township Administration and Service Center at 1220 South High School Road, Indianapolis.
Peggy Hines, External Committee Chair selected by the Indiana School Counselors Association (ISCA), called the session to order and asked members to introduce themselves. Each member commented on the changing role of school counselors in the twentieth century.
Joe Weaver, Chairperson of the IPSB, presented an overview and history of the IPSB. This presentation highlighted the INTASC principles, standards-based licensure, licensure types, developmental standards and content standards.
Shawn Sriver , IPSB staff representative, explained the handouts provided to the committee. Each member received information that included the IPSB memo for the proposed ECSC committee, Addendum G: IPSB Policies for an External Committee, INTASC Core Standards, Standards for School Service Professionals, developmental standards, licensure framework and transition time line, and 511 IC Article 4-1.5.- The Standards for School Services Professionals were discussed. Shawn Sriver clarified the school professionals incorporated into these standards. Nurses, attendance workers, social workers, psychologists, counselors, and speech and language pathologists are included in the category of school service professionals.
- The roles and appointments of External Committee Members were conveyed to the group. Peggy Hines will serve as External Committee Chair, and Mike Horvath will be the IPSB member. IPSB staff member, Shawn Sriver, will assist and support the group, and Sue Reynolds will serve as the Department of Education (DOE) Representative. Susie Matzat accepted the role of record keeper.
1. Group Norms--Members discussed and agreed upon the following for the external committee sessions:- a.) stay focused on what is best for the students and for the profession;
- b.) listen openly to others and participate as a group member
- c.) RSVP to Shawn Sriver and Peggy Hines if one can not attend a meeting;
- d.) meetings to be held on the following dates: December 6, January 10,
- February 7, March 7, April 4, May 2, and May 30;
- e.) meeting time and place will be from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Wayne Township Administration and Service Center;
- f.) strive for consensus in decision-making;
- g.) maintain effective selections and a log of significant decisions;
- h.) meeting dates will be posted on the IPSB web site, the ISCA web site, and on the Counselor Talk ListServ;
- i.) selections will be posted on these three sites after selections are approved by the IPSB
- j.) a structured agenda will be available for each meeting;
- k.) guests are to be scheduled at the beginning of the meeting so that members can listen to their comments and then proceed with the agenda;
- l.) members should share feedback from constituents at the beginning of each meeting as an agenda item;
- m.) the commitment to the group shall be fulfilled through the completion of assignments;
- n.) all information pertinent to the committee shall come before the committee as a whole; and
- o.) these norms are considered a working document and may be revisited and revised as needed.
2. Review of Student Services Standards--Rex Stockton, Standards Committee Chair explained the process by which these standards were written and approved. Discussion followed. If members believe that changes are necessary to better address the standards for school counselors, recommendations can be made (following the Board process of recommending to the Standards Review Cycle Committee ((SRCC))). These standards will be reviewed (by the SRCC) on a regular basis.
3. Committee Charge--Shawn Sriver, IPSB staff representative, explained the External Committee for School Counseling?s charge as approved by the IPSB?s Executive Committee at its May 24, 2000, meeting, and by the IPSB at it?s September 20, 2000, meeting. The charge of the committee is as follows: recommend the type of license for school counseling including school settings and prerequisites; recommend an assessment continuum for licensure including preservice, induction, and continuing education; determine the need for a pilot program and develop a pilot program if deemed necessary; and other related activity to school counseling.
Shawn Sriver expressed the need for a strong rationale for all areas. The committee was informed to stay within the following stages of licensure: initial, professional practitioner, and accomplished practitioner. The committee also was reminded to base all decisions on the standards and to avoid prescribing or imposing specifics to higher education institutions. A complete package of recommendations will be forwarded to the IPSB. Shawn Sriver explained that a K-12 license would require the higher education institutions to meet all level standards and all student services standards to be accredited.
A discussion about the charges addressed several thought-provoking questions. Should the area be defined as Student Services and the content be defined as school counselor? Will the license be K-12 or will it qualify the holder to counsel in one or more developmental areas or school settings? How will teaching experience be addressed? Will the internship remain in place? Should a test or exam be a part of the licensure process? Will mentors be incorporated into the process? Are portfolios are necessary part of the licensure process? Will PGP?s and PGT?s be used? Is a pilot program necessary? Who would fund a pilot project if approved by the IPSB?
4. December Meeting--Peggy Hines facilitated the plans for the December meeting. It was decided that there was a need to examine the settings aspect and developmental levels for licensure. After a better understanding of these and after the committee members discuss these two items, expert testimony may be requested. Prerequisites, including teaching experience, will also be discussed in December. Degree requirements was the last item for next month.
NEXT MEETING: December 6, 2000
- External Committee for School Counselors