A Multivariate Analysis of Variance Investigation of School-Level RAMP Status Across Two States

Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) and Student Outcomes in Elementary and Middle Schools

“…Although RAMP is a more rigorous measure of a school counseling program, we find, with a few exceptions, that student achievement is no different in elementary and middle schools after a school earns RAMP designation. These findings are consistent with Goodman-Scott et al (2019) and mirror most of the findings of Wilkerson and colleagues (2013). Although Goodman-Scott et al (2019) did not find differences in attendance outcomes, we saw significant results that suggest attendance outcomes do improve in RAMP schools, especially for middle schools and more vulnerable students (e.g., Hispanic and economically disadvantaged).…”

“…These findings are consistent with Goodman-Scott et al (2019) and mirror most of the findings of Wilkerson and colleagues (2013). Although Goodman-Scott et al (2019) did not find differences in attendance outcomes, we saw significant results that suggest attendance outcomes do improve in RAMP schools, especially for middle schools and more vulnerable students (e.g., Hispanic and economically disadvantaged). Because school counselors do not provide direct classroom instruction in tested subject areas, the nature of school counseling may be more conducive to influencing attendance rather than achievement.…”

“…For example, Wilkerson and colleagues (2013) found no significant school-level achievement differences in RAMP middle and high schools, albeit a positive relationship in elementary schools. Likewise, in a two-state investigation of elementary, middle, and high schools, Goodman-Scott et al (2019) found no significant relationships between RAMP status and school-level student outcomes (e.g., achievement, suspension rates, and attendance). Both Wilkerson et al (2013) and Goodman-Scott et al (2019) used outcome data aggregated to the school level.…”

“…To date, Goodman-Scott and colleagues (2019) have performed the most empirically rigorous analysis of RAMP. They used propensity score analyses to match RAMP schools to observationally similar schools that did not hold the RAMP designation.…”

“…One advantage of our study is access to student-level achievement and attendance outcomes (rather than school-level data). Furthermore, each of these previous studies compared outcomes for RAMP schools and non-RAMP schools—using stratified sampling (Wilkerson et al, 2013) or a more rigorous propensity score matching method (Goodman-Scott et al, 2019). Our analyses took a different approach by assessing how student achievement and attendance changed after schools became RAMP-designated.…”