BILL ANALYSIS
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UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Bill No: SB 272
Author: Wiggins (D), et al
Amended: 7/16/09
Vote: 21
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE : 6-1, 4/22/09
AYES: Romero, Alquist, Liu, Padilla, Simitian, Wyland
NOES: Huff
NO VOTE RECORDED: Hancock, Maldonado
SENATE FLOOR : 25-12, 4/27/09
AYES: Alquist, Calderon, Cedillo, Corbett, Correa,
DeSaulnier, Ducheny, Florez, Hancock, Kehoe, Leno, Liu,
Lowenthal, Maldonado, Negrete McLeod, Padilla, Pavley,
Romero, Simitian, Steinberg, Wiggins, Wolk, Wright,
Wyland, Yee
NOES: Ashburn, Benoit, Cogdill, Cox, Denham, Dutton,
Harman, Hollingsworth, Huff, Runner, Strickland, Walters
NO VOTE RECORDED: Aanestad, Oropeza, Vacancy
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 50-26, 8/17/09 - See last page for vote
SUBJECT : Educational counseling
SOURCE : California Association of School Counselors
DIGEST : This bill 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
CONTINUED
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development shall include strategies for pupils about
educational and career options; and, states legislative
intent regarding the role and responsibilities of
counselors.
Assembly Amendments make the bill permissive rather than
mandatory.
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
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. Authorizes districts that choose to provide a
comprehensive educational counseling program to include
within academic counseling, specified components that
align to MHSSC program such as:
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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.
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.
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
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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.
Comments
The author's office 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 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."
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: No
Local: No
SUPPORT : (Verified 4/23/09)
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California a Association of School Counselors (source)
California Association of Leaders for Career Preparation
California Association of Regional Occupational Centers and
Programs
California League of High Schools
California League of Middle Schools
California Teachers Association
Western Association for College Admission Counseling
ASSEMBLY FLOOR :
AYES: Ammiano, Arambula, Beall, Block, Blumenfield,
Brownley, Buchanan, Caballero, Charles Calderon, Carter,
Chesbro, Coto, Davis, De La Torre, De Leon, Eng, Evans,
Feuer, Fong, Fuentes, Furutani, Galgiani, Hall, Hayashi,
Hernandez, Hill, Huber, Huffman, Jones, Krekorian, Lieu,
Bonnie Lowenthal, Ma, Mendoza, Monning, Nava, John A.
Perez, V. Manuel Perez, Portantino, Ruskin, Salas,
Saldana, Skinner, Solorio, Swanson, Torlakson, Torres,
Torrico, Yamada, Bass
NOES: Adams, Anderson, Bill Berryhill, Tom Berryhill,
Blakeslee, Conway, DeVore, Duvall, Fletcher, Fuller,
Gaines, Garrick, Gilmore, Hagman, Harkey, Jeffries,
Knight, Logue, Miller, Nestande, Niello, Nielsen, Silva,
Audra Strickland, Tran, Villines
NO VOTE RECORDED: Cook, Emmerson, Smyth, Vacancy
DLW:do 8/18/09 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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