Enhancing Student Success: The Universal Encouragement Program for Grades 6-12
The Universal Encouragement Program (UEP), designed by the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, provides a free online guidance assessment system aimed at promoting student achievement from grades 6-12. This program enhances understanding of student needs through data-driven insights, allowing counselors to tailor support for better educational outcomes. With online assessments that are easy to complete in 10-20 minutes, the UEP assists in identifying academic and career needs, monitoring progress, and ensuring that more students graduate prepared for postsecondary success.
Enhancing Student Success: The Universal Encouragement Program for Grades 6-12
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Presentation Transcript
Universal Encouragement Program Courtney Arnall Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education
Introduction to the Universal Encouragement Program (UEP) • Free online guidance assessment, reporting, and communications system for supporting student achievement and attainment • Provides data for better understanding of student needs, interests, and experiences • Targets students in grades 6-12 and beyond
Today’s Topics Guidance Assessment Essentials • The whys of guidance assessment • The whats of guidance assessment • The hows: an overview of survey forms and reports • Doing guidance assessment • Retrieving and creating reports
Today’s Topics Preparing for use • System customization options • Getting registered • Preparing for first use with students
Guidance Assessment Whys … Simply put … We want more students to graduate from high school prepared for postsecondary educations, and equipped to be successful in postsecondary education. In the U.S., the national average of student-to-counselor ratio is 430:1. Source: U.S. Department of Education, Common Core of Data, National Institute for Educational Statistics-Public Elementary and Secondary School Student Enrollment and Staff From the Common Core of Data: School Year 2009-2010. Retrieved from schoolcounselor.org (American School Counselor Association). The associate recommends a student-counselor ratio of 250:1.
Guidance assessment to improve student outcomes Many data points associated with high school completion and postsecondary participation are evident in … 6th Grade “… most future dropouts can be predicted as early as 6th grade by studying academic and engagement issues among these students in elementary and middle schools.” (Balfanz, Herzog, & Mac Iver. 2005)
What do we know? Much of what we couldknow remains hidden … Known Unknown
… or known only to the keepers of the data. With respect to guidance needs, we have limited data on students. • Aspirations and intentions • Desires for interventions and services • What steps students have taken • What steps they haven’t taken • Risk factors that affect achievement
What do we know?In regard to student outcomes. • Do we know what students need in academic and career guidance and support? • Do we know what students want? • Do we know what students have done or would be willing to do? • Do we know the effects of our efforts to assist students?
Do we really need another source of data? • Attendance data • Grades • Test scores • IEP data • Course enrollments • School registration documents • Discipline records
What we could learn … • View trends – are we moving in the right direction? • Understand audience differences • Measure the effectiveness of guidance efforts • Provide a representation of student needs to funding sources • Assert the need for resources, support or change with evidence
The UEP • Collect data about the person and the group to better understand guidance and support needs, interests, and experiences. • Online assessment is quick (10-20 minutes) and easy enough for middle school students to complete. • Reports are instantaneous to counselors, education support professionals, and parents/guardians.
The UEP • Identify specific academic issues • Identify specific career and education planning needs • Obtain personal and social concerns that affect school performance • Report items that affect high school graduation and postsecondary participation
The UEPUsing the data • Get to know your students at a deeper level • Find out what your students needs • See services and activities your students/clients actually want • Better utilize the limited time you have with students • Provide targeted information in response to specific needs • Assess and track student progress • Measure the effect of information and services • Provide systematic early warning
Form 1Students in grades 6-8 • Personal and family demographics • Education • Planning experiences • Career interests • Future plans • Activities and services • 15-20 minutes to complete
Form 2Students in grades 9-12 • Personal and family demographics • Education • College readiness • Career interests • Future plans • Activities and services • 10-20 minutes to complete
Form 3For graduates and other adults • Personal and family demographics • Education and training • Career and employment • Involvement • Future plans • High school experience • Non-graduates • Military service • 15-20 minutes to complete
The UEP • Assessments available in English and Spanish • Reports to counselors in English • Reports to parents are the language primarily spoken at home – English or Spanish
How to register and view reports UEP Home Page http://capenetwork.org/
Questions? Courtney ArnallOklahoma CareerTech Career and Academic Systems Specialist405.743.5425 courtney.arnall@okcareertech.org
