AZ SB1344

Requires each school district and charter school to hire at least one school counselor for every 550 enrolled pupils beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, contingent on sufficient appropriations.

Allows school districts or charter schools with fewer than 550 pupils to either hire a part-time school counselor or enter into an intergovernmental agreement with other districts to contract for counselor services.

Establishes state board certification requirements for school counselors, effective June 30, 2020, with standards conforming to national school counseling program standards.

Creates the school counseling plan grant fund administered by the Department of Education, providing grants to schools and districts that adopt comprehensive counseling plans and meet specific application requirements.

Appropriates $285 million total to the grant fund over five fiscal years: $19 million (2019-2020), $38 million (2020-2021), $57 million (2021-2022), $76 million (2022-2023), and $95 million (2023-2024).