AZ SB1216

Requires each school district and charter school to hire at least one school counselor for every 550 enrolled pupils beginning in fiscal year 2025-2026, if sufficient monies are appropriated.

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

Establishes a school counselor certification requirement administered by the state board of education, effective June 30, 2021, with standards conforming to national school counseling program standards.

Creates a school counseling plan grant fund to distribute monies to schools and districts implementing comprehensive school counseling plans, with applications requiring commitments on evaluation methods, confidentiality policies, family notification, and community referral procedures.

Appropriates increasing amounts to the grant fund: $19 million (2020-2021), $38 million (2021-2022), $57 million (2022-2023), $76 million (2023-2024), and $95 million (2024-2025).