(Revised March 2010)

Congratulations on taking the first step toward becoming a Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) school. The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) established RAMP in 2003 to promote exemplary school counseling programs. To date, more than 250 schools across the country have received the RAMP designation.

RAMP is a vibrant program that continues to grow and be refined as part of the ongoing evolution of comprehensive school counseling. No printed document can address every potential question, detail or future program change, but this guide provides you with information on the key aspects of the application process.

RAMP

• Is based on the ASCA National Model.
• Is a recognition program for individual schools, not districts or school counselors.
• Gives you the confidence that your program aligns with a nationally accepted and recognized model.
• Helps you evaluate your program and areas for improvement.
• Increases your skills and knowledge.
• Enhances your program's efforts to contribute to student success.
  

This guide is intended to help you understand the steps you must take to earn and maintain RAMP. It serves as a useful reference as you make the decision whether to pursue RAMP, complete the RAMP application or seek to re-RAMP. In addition, the guide includes the RAMP rubric, all required components for each of the 12 application sections and examples of supplemental forms.

RAMP Benefits

• An engraved plaque, suitable for display on your office wall or in the school's trophy case.
• Letter sent to your school board, principal and superintendent informing them of your exemplary school counseling program.
• Template press release for you to individualize and send to local press.
• Use of RAMP logo for your business cards, letterhead, Web site or printed materials
• Recognition at ASCA's annual conference.
• Two tickets to the RAMP awards celebration at ASCA's annual conference.
• Recognition in ASCA School Counselor magazine and on the ASCA National Model Web site. 
  

Application Process

• All applications must be received in the ASCA office by 4:30 p.m. EST on Oct. 15, 2010.
• No late applications will be accepted or reviewed.
• Applications are reviewed for eligibility by ASCA prior to the scoring process.
• Incomplete applications will not be reviewed, and no refunds will be given.
• The RAMP Review Committee is an independent panel composed of school counseling professionals. Each application is scored by three reviewers.
• All applicants will receive notification via e-mail by Jan. 21, 2011.
• The application fee is $200 ($400 for nonmembers).
• The RAMP designation is valid for three years. At the end of three years, schools may apply again to continue to be designated a RAMP school.

Application Components

Information Page: Complete the information page with the following information:

• Contact information for the primary person who will receive hard copy and e-mail correspondence regarding the RAMP application process. Make sure the e-mail address is correct.
• Contact information for your school, principal, superintendent and school board chair.
• ASCA member number (if applicable).
• Demographic information (number of students in school and district, percentage of students on free/reduced-price lunch, number served per counselor, racial breakdown of students, number of special education students).
• Top three issues your school is dealing with.
• The time frame the RAMP application covers. (The application must cover at least one complete school year).
  

Wait until you are ready to mail in the application CDs before completing this section to ensure that all the information is accurate and up to date.

CD: The CD must include the 12 application components as well as a half-page to one-page narrative for each of the first 11 components. Applications that do not include a narrative for the first 11 components cannot receive higher than a 3 for that section. The purpose of the narrative is to provide a rationale for the information that was submitted and to provide a description of the process. See the rubric for specific guidelines. The 12th component does not require a narrative.

Here is a breakdown of the 12 application components:

1. Statement of Philosophy
2. Mission Statement
3. School Counseling Program Goals 
4. Competencies and Indicators
5. Management Agreement
6. Advisory Council
7. Calendar
8. Classroom Guidance Curriculum: Action Plan and Lessons
9. Classroom Guidance Curriculum: Results Report
10. Small-Group Responsive Services
11. Closing-the-Gap Results Report
12. Program Evaluation Reflection

You must also mail in a signature page that includes original signatures. All who sign this document have seen and approved all components of the application. This page must also include the signature of a school board representative, acknowledging the application has been presented to the school board or the school board representative(s) for your school. Do not scan this information and include on the CD. Original copies only.

Putting the Application on a CD

One of the easiest things to do would be to take all your documents to a professional copy store and have them scanned to a PDF. The cost would range from approximately 25 cents to 89 cents per page depending on the establishment. You may also want to contact local businesses or universities to see if they would do it for free or at a reduced rate.

Please do not place each section in a different folder. All documents should be in one folder. Follow these tips for placing your application on CD.

Each file should start with a number (corresponding to the number of that section of the application) followed by a letter. For example, if you are working on the Advisory Council section, which is section 6, you would include the following:

• 6a–Advisory council narrative
• 6b–Advisory council members
• 6c–Advisory council meeting minutes
• 6c–Documentation on how feedback from advisory council guides the school counseling program

Checklist

• Complete the information page and include with your CDs, signature page and payment. Keep a copy for your records.
• You may pay online using a credit card, or mail in a check or purchase order with your CDs. If you are mailing in payment, your payment MUST come with the CDs. Include this payment page.
• Compile four copies of the CD, and enclose each one in a protective case. Make sure your school name is written on each CD.
• Complete the signature page and send in the original copy with the CDs.
  
• Mail in the documentation with the CDs and the payment to: ASCA RAMP Applications, 1101 King St., Suite 625, Alexandria, VA 22314

RAMP status will be awarded to schools that receive scores of 54 or higher (out of a possible 60). By submitting your application, you are giving ASCA permission to share and reproduce your materials (with appropriate citation to your school provided).

The applications will not be reviewed if all required components are not complete or provided.

Resubmissions

If your school does not receive the RAMP designation during spring, the school can resubmit during the fall. Resubmissions:

• Must be in the ASCA office by the 4:30 p.m. EST on Oct. 15.
• No late applications accepted
• No fee
• Four CDs of entire application must be submitted. Only sections identified as deficient should be different from the original submission.
• As the applicant, you must identify in the narrative any sections that have been changed.
• Schools will be notified in via e-mail by January 21.

Re-RAMP

RAMP designations are good for three years. At the end of that time, to remain a RAMP school, you must reapply. Re-RAMP applications are due Oct. 15.

To reapply, complete the regular RAMP application AND include your response to this final question:

“What impact has a high-quality, comprehensive school counseling program had on your school and students? Select one area for which you have collected data for the previous three school years and include a results report demonstrating the impact your program has had during that time. Relevant information and documentation must be included.”

This component will not factor into the final score but is required for the application to be reviewed.

Helpful Tips for All RAMP Applicants

• Remember, RAMP is about the school counseling program and not individual school counselors
• Complete the audit in the "ASCA National Model."
• Read the RAMP Applicaton Guide.
• Review the "ASCA National Model."
• Read "Making DATA Work."
• Review the rubric carefully.
• Understand the difference between process, perception and results data.
• Include a narrative for the first 11 sections providing a rational for what was submitted and including a description of the process that supports the evidence.
• Ensure the application covers at least one full school year; exemplary school counseling programs take time to develop and implement.
• Have several different people, using different computers, attempt to open the CD and all files to make sure everything is properly organized and working.
• Keep a hard copy of all CD files.
• Label all four CDs with the school’s name.
• Review the CDs before submitting them.