BILL ANALYSIS
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 272|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 272
Author: Wiggins (D)
Amended: As introduced
Vote: 21
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE : 6-1, 4/22/09
AYES: Romero, Alquist, Liu, Padilla, Simitian, Wyland
NOES: Huff
NO VOTE RECORDED: Hancock, Maldonado
SUBJECT : Educational counseling
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : 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.
ANALYSIS :
Existing law:
1. 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
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services to students in grades 7-12. Districts
participating in this program must provide for the
individualized review of pupils' academic and department
records, and provide specified counseling services.
2. Authorizes school districts to provide a comprehensive
educational counseling program for all pupils that
include academic counseling, career and vocational
counseling, and personal and social counseling.
3. 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 complete specified courses in academic
subject areas.
This bill:
1. Requires districts that choose to provide a
comprehensive educational counseling program to:
(1) 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.
(2) 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
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career and vocational counseling to include strategies
for pupils pursing 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.
Comments
According to the author's office, school counselor focus
groups and 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 articulate the specific services that
must be provide 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.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: No
Local: No
SUPPORT : (Verified 4/23/09)
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
DLW:do 4/23/09 Senate Floor Analyses
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SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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