BILL ANALYSIS
SB 272
Page 1
SENATE THIRD READING
SB 272 (Wiggins)
As Amended July 16, 2009
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE : 25-12
EDUCATION 6-3
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|Ayes:|Brownley, Ammiano, | | |
| |Arambula, Buchanan, | | |
| |Carter, Eng | | |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Nestande, Garrick, Miller | | |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Authorizes school districts that choose to provide an
educational counseling program to include in that program
specific academic, career and vocational counseling; provides
that professional development shall include strategies for
pupils about educational and career options; and, states
legislative intent regarding the role and responsibilities of
counselors. Specifically, this bill :
1)Authorizes districts that choose to provide a comprehensive
educational counseling program to include within academic
counseling, specified components that align to the Middle and
High School Supplemental Counseling (MHSSC) program such as:
a) A review of a pupil's academic and deportment records,
and career goals;
b) An opportunity for a counselor to meet with each pupil
and his or her parents to discuss a pupil's records,
educational goals, and academic progress;
c) Coursework information for pupils having difficulty
passing one or both parts of the high school exit exam
(HSEE) or satisfying curricular requirements for admission
to the University of California (UC) and the California
State University (CSU), and assisting and informing pupils
of available services and options, as specified;
SB 272
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d) Identification of pupils who are at risk of not
graduating with the rest of their class;
e) An individual conference with each pupil in grades 10
and 12 who has failed to pass one or both parts of the HSEE
or has not satisfied or is not on track to satisfy the
curricular requirements for admission to the UC and the CSU
and to successfully transition to postsecondary education
or employment, and requires the conference to take place
according to the specified schedule;
f) An individual conference with each pupil in grade 7 who
is deemed to be at the far-below basic level in English
language arts or mathematics pursuant to the California
Standards Test and is unlikely to successfully transition
to high school and meet all graduation requirements; and,
g) Specified information related to the consequences of not
passing the HSEE, program options, results of standardized
tests, and availability of financial aid.
2)Provides that educational counseling includes 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.
3)Provides that ongoing professional development related to
career and vocational counseling shall include strategies for
pupils pursuing postsecondary, career technical education,
multiple pathway, college, and global career opportunities.
4)States the intent of the Legislature that school counselors
engage with, advocate for and provide support for all pupils,
plan, implement, and evaluate programs to promote the
academic, career, personal, and social development of all
pupils, engage in continued development as a professional
school counselor, and other activities as specified.
5)States the intent of the Legislature that school districts
implement comprehensive and coherent counseling programs.
FISCAL EFFECT : This bill is keyed non-fiscal.
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COMMENTS : The 2006 Budget Act provided $200 million in ongoing
funds to support additional counseling services for students in
grades 7-12, and AB 1802 (Budget Committee), Chapter 79,
Statutes of 2006, established the MHSSC program. School
districts are eligible to apply for this funding to support
additional and appropriate counseling services for all students
in grades 7 through 12 and to reduce the counselor-to-pupil
ratio at all schools.
Additionally, SB 405 (Steinberg), Chapter 732, Statutes of 2007,
expanded the provisions of the MHSSC program to add specific
requirements for an individualized review of the career goals
of, and the available academic and career technical education
opportunities and workplace experiences available to pupils, as
well as an explanation of eligibility requirements for admission
to a four-year institution of postsecondary education.
This bill seeks to amend existing counseling statutes in the
Education Code to allow districts to align counseling programs
to the MHSSC program provisions and ensure consistency regarding
the role of school counselors.
The California Research Bureau (CRB) recently completed the
Careers Project research study requested by a bipartisan group
of members of the Legislature. Some of the key findings in the
study show that about 20% of schools in the school survey sample
reported not having a school counselor. Only 70% of counselors
and 60% of principals indicated that school counselors provide
career guidance to students in addition to academic and
personal/social issues. Additionally, the study reports that
school counselors that participated in focus groups suggested
that career development counseling was not a priority at their
schools, and several parents commented that there were not
enough counselors available to provide career guidance to their
children, particularly given other priorities related to student
academic progress.
The author states, "The current definition of a school counselor
no longer reflects standards and practices that are central to
the profession and critical to supporting student achievement.
Consequently, this outdated definition fails to provide guidance
to administrators, educators, and even school counselors on
successful methods that allow school counselors to provide
comprehensive support to students. Without clear and specific
SB 272
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standards the delivery of counseling services becomes
inconsistent, the job of a counselor becomes more challenging
and the quality of the programs diminishes. In addition, by
specifying the roles of school counselors, students can be
provided with better assistance by becoming more knowledgeable
of their career interests and options."
Analysis Prepared by : Marisol Avi?a / ED. / (916) 319-2087
FN: 0001965