BILL ANALYSIS
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Gloria Romero, Chair
2009-2010 Regular Session
BILL NO: SB 272
AUTHOR: Wiggins
INTRODUCED: February 24, 2009
FISCAL COMM: No HEARING DATE: April 22, 2009
URGENCY: No CONSULTANT:Beth Graybill
SUBJECT : Educational Counseling
SUMMARY:
This bill requires school districts that choose to provide an
educational counseling program to include in that program
specific academic, career and vocational counseling; requires
professional development to include strategies for counseling
students about educational and career options; and includes
legislative intent language regarding the role and
responsibilities of counselors.
BACKGROUND
Existing law establishes the Middle and High School
Supplemental Counseling Program (MHSSCP). The 2006 Budget
Act included $200 million in ongoing Proposition 98 General
Funds for the purpose of providing additional counseling
services to students in grades 7-12. Districts participating
in this program must provide for the individualized review of
pupils' academic and deportment records, and provide
specified counseling services.
Existing law authorizes school districts to provide a
comprehensive educational counseling program for all pupils
that includes academic counseling, career and vocational
counseling, and personal and social counseling.
Existing law defines educational counseling to mean
specialized services provided by a school counselor
possessing a valid Pupil Personnel Services credential issued
by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
In order to graduate high school, current law requires all
pupils to pass both the English language arts and mathematics
portions of the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) and
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complete specified courses in academic subject areas.
ANALYSIS
This bill :
1) Requires districts that choose to provide a
comprehensive educational counseling program to:
a) Provide specific academic counseling services
such as reviewing student records, meeting with
pupils and parents to discuss a pupil's records,
educational goals, and academic progress, providing
coursework information, assisting students having
difficulty passing one or both parts of the CAHSEE,
and other services as specified.
b) Provide career and vocational counseling
services such as those that help pupils identify
personal interests, skills, and abilities,
understand the relationship between academic
achievement and career success, and understand the
value of participating in career technical
education and work-based learning activities, and
other services as specified.
2) Requires ongoing professional development related to
career and vocational counseling to include strategies
for pupils pursuing postsecondary, career technical
education, multiple pathway, college, and global career
opportunities.
3) Specifies the intent of the Legislature for school
counselors to carryout activities and services such as
engaging with, advocating for and providing support for
all pupils, planning, implementing, and evaluating
programs to promote the academic, career, personal, and
social development of all pupils, engaging in continued
development as a professional school counselor, and
other activities as specified.
STAFF COMMENTS
1) Need for the bill . The role of a school counselor has
changed considerably since 1987 when the current school
counselor statutes were enacted. According to the
author's office, school counselor focus groups and
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professional development committees have indicated a
need for greater clarity and guidance about the roles
and responsibilities of school counselors. While
statutes governing the Middle and High School
Supplemental Counseling Program (MHSSCP) articulate the
specific services that must be provided in order to
receive MHSSCP funding, the statutes that govern
educational counseling are more general. By providing
greater specificity, this bill could help counselors to
engage in consistent practice across schools and
districts, improve the quality of career counseling
provided to students and help ensure that counseling
services are aligned with the intent of the MHSSCP.
2) Professional development . This bill requires ongoing
professional development that to include strategies to
help pupils set and pursue postsecondary work and
education opportunities. Staff notes that current law
does not require school counselors to engage in ongoing
professional development in order to renew their pupil
personnel services credential.
3) Categorical flexibility . Middle and High School
Supplemental Counseling Program funding is included in
the Tier III categorical flexibility provided by the
2009-10 Budget Act (subject to cuts and flexibility).
It is unclear how that flexibility will affect the
availability of school counselors through 2012-13.
SUPPORT
California Association of Leaders for Career Preparation
California Association of Regional Occupational Centers and
Programs
California Association of School Counselors
California League of Middle Schools
OPPOSITION
None received.