The Support Personnel Accountability Report Card (SPARC) is a continuous improvement tool that gives a school site an opportunity to demonstrate effective communication and a commitment to getting results. Modeled after the School Accountability Report Card (SARC), the SPARC has been developed by an advisory group of Los Angeles County counselors, counselor supervisors, counselor educators, and California Department of Education consultants.
We hope that you will find the SPARC useful in:
- Presenting a self-evaluation of your student support system,
- Promoting your program to your school administration, school board, and parents/guardians,
- Preparing reports for school accreditation, grants, or awards recognition, and
- Implementing the National Standards and the National Model for School Counseling Programs developed by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA)
The California Department of Education and the Los Angeles County Office of Education have honored 82 school counseling and student support programs from 17 counties throughout the state. Eleven schools also received California State Senate Resolutions for continuous improvement as demonstrated on their SPARC for the last five years. Some 143 SPARCs were submitted this year for award consideration. Peer review of report cards in Northern and Southern California as well as in San Diego determined award status.
To obtain the most current information on the Support Personnel Accountability Report Card (SPARC) in the state of California, go to the SPARC Web site (Outside Source). Qualifying schools receive awards in one of five ways:
- Best in the West recipients received an academy award three years in a row;
- Academy Award recipients received an academy award two years in a row;
- Certificate of Commendation recognizes a school's contribution to the SPARC for one year;
- Diamond Award for schools receiving academic awards five years in a row; and
- First Step Award for completing five of the ten required categories.
For further information on SPARC, visit the Los Angeles County Office of Education (Outside Source) Web site. For information on the preparation of a SPARC or to schedule a training date, contact:
Bob Tyra, Counseling Consultant
Los Angeles County Office of Education
Phone: 562-922-6373
E-mail: Tyra_Bob@lacoe.edu
or
Counseling, Student Support, and Service-Learning Office
California Department of Education
Phone: 916-323-2183
