EAF Support
During the planning process, EAF Coaches support districts in the strategic design of an individual planning system within their comprehensive school counseling program that is aligned with the EAF. They lead the district in the initial diagnostic completion, gap analysis, and development of student outcome goals. Additionally, these coaches share best practices for advising, provide feedback throughout the process, and support districts in preparing for implementation. When implementing the EAF in districts, EAF Coaches support the district in monitoring and tracking the progress towards student outcome goals and overall system improvement. These coaches also support the district in selecting future priorities and sustainability planning.
EAF Planning and Implementation
The EAF planning and implementation processes are designed to enhance advising systems and improve student outcomes. Both processes are led by a district steering committee with support from an EAF Coach located at the education service center. The planning process consists of the completion of a diagnostic and gap analysis, development of a mission and vision with student outcome goals, and a plan for implementation. The implementation process follows the planning cycle and is continued throughout the implementation of the effective advising system. It consists of the implementation of strategic priorities, monitoring and evaluation of student outcome data, and continued improvement of the individual planning system.
The EAF Planning Process
During this process, districts evaluate current practices, define strategic priorities, and prepare for implementation.
- Create a steering committee to lead the EAF planning process.
- Collect initial data via the EAF Diagnostic Tool to understand current system alignment and determine program needs.
- Analyze data to locate areas of strengths and opportunities for improvement.
- Create an effective advising vision and mission and long-term goals.
- Set strategic priorities aligned to findings from the diagnostic.
- Establish student outcome goals to measure the success of strategic priorities.
- Use the EAF to identify strategies, tools, and resources to implement priorities and meet student outcome goals.
- Develop a budget to implement EAF priorities in the next school year.
- Create a communications plan to share EAF priorities with district and campus stakeholders.
The EAF Implementation Process
This process focuses on executing priorities, monitoring progress, and refining strategies based on data.
- Reconvene a steering committee and share priorities with stakeholders.
- Create progress monitoring systems.
- Implement EAF priorities.
- Oversee spending of funds aligned to implementation budget.
- Complete annual diagnostic and gap analysis to measure progress towards program improvement.
- Collect data aligned to implementation of priorities and student outcome goals.
- Continue data collection aligned to priorities and student outcome goals.
- Analyze data and reflect on successes and challenges from the current school year.
- Set priorities for the following school year and plan for program sustainability.
EAF Diagnostic Tool
The EAF Diagnostic Tool brings together district steering committees consisting of school counselors, administrators, and other program representatives, with the aim of enhancing effective advising. The purpose of this tool is to evaluate the current state of implementation within the district and determine areas that need improvement in alignment with the EAF.
EAF Gap Analysis Tool
The EAF Gap Analysis Tool is used to plan the milestones and grade level expectations related to career, academic, personal, and social development, and financial literacy. It helps align staff roles, allocations of time, and professional development needs for the advising system.