Closing the Loop: Incorporating Program Evaluation Into an Elementary School Career Day

Initiating career education in elementary school is developmentally appropriate (Magnuson & Starr, 2000; Wahl & Blackhurst, 2000) and states with comprehensive guidance programs mandate elementary career development in some form (Gysbers, 2005). School counselors play an integral role in coordinating comprehensive career development programming (ASCA, 2012). Program evaluation conducted in conjunction with an elementary school Career Day indicated positive improvements in students’ understanding of “career” and is used to illustrate school counselor accountability approaches. Implications and recommendations are presented.