Gallagher, Gonzalez-Rojas, Lunsford, Jensen, Santabarbara, Glick, Simone, De Los Santos
MLTSPNSR
Add §803-c, Ed L
Requires at least one full-time guidance counselor to be employed in each elementary, intermediate, middle, junior and senior high school throughout the state; sets duties of guidance counselors.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A706
SPONSOR: Clark TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to requiring a guidance
counselor in each elementary, intermediate, middle, junior high and
senior high school
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
This bill adds a new section 803-c to the Education Law to require at
least one full-time certified or licensed school guidance counselor in
any elementary, intermediate, middle or junior high school exclusive of
any school guidance counselors funded or mandated through special educa-
tion funding, aid, regulation, or statute and delineates some of their
responsibilities.
Section 2 establishes that this act shall take effect immediately.
JUSTIFICATION:
Schoolchildren in New York face numerous challenges both in and out of
the classroom everyday. Today's children face a challenging urban envi-
ronment with dwindling guidance services that were routinely available
years ago. Violence on the playground and the street can be a common-
place reminder of abuse, both physical and emotional, that children
might be subject to at home. For many children it can be a struggle to
reach their potential academically, socially and emotionally. School
guidance counselors are prepared to assist students to address and
combat these challenges in a successful and positive way. In many cases
guidance counselors can intervene early and help the student get the
support services needed to prevent any further hindrance to their
success. It is a sad reality that many children do not receive the early
intervention needed to prevent long-term problems and are often unneces-
sarily and inappropriately referred to special education. With the aid
of a school guidance counselor, many long-term problems can be averted.
There are some school districts in New York State that fund not even one
school guidance counselor in the entire district, with the exception of
guidance counselors mandated for special education. In order for schools
to have an effective guidance program that meets the needs of their
large, diverse student populations, each school must be adequately
staffed by at least one certified or licensed school guidance counselor.
This legislation would provide that.
FISCAL IMPACT ON THE STATE:
TBD
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24: A.1556 (Clark) - Referred to Education
2021-22: A.7473 (Clark) -Referred to Education
2019-20: A.2709 (Ortiz) - Referred to Education 2017-18: A.3584 (Ortiz)
- Referred to Education
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
706
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY(Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. CLARK, GALLAGHER, GONZALEZ-ROJAS, LUNSFORD,
JENSEN, SANTABARBARA, GLICK, SIMONE, DE LOS SANTOS -- read once and
referred to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring a guidance
counselor in each elementary, intermediate, middle, junior high and
senior high school
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 803-c
2 to read as follows:
3 § 803-c. Full-time school guidance counselors required in elementary,
4 intermediate, middle, junior high and senior high schools. The board of
5 education or trustees of every school district in the state shall on and
6 after July first, two thousand twenty-six employ at least one certified
7 or licensed school guidance counselor in each of the schools under their
8 jurisdiction exclusive of any school guidance counselors funded or
9 mandated through any special education funding, aid, regulation or stat-
10 ute. Such school guidance counselor shall perform such duties includ-
11 ing, but not limited to: coordinating with the instructional staff to
12 prepare students to participate effectively in their current and future
13 educational programs, helping students who exhibit any attendance,
14 academic, behavioral or adjustment problems, educating students concern-
15 ing avoidance of child sexual abuse, and encouraging parental involve-
16 ment.
17 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01376-01-5
