S.R. NO. 78 Summary

• Board of Education and Department of Education requested to develop a plan for implementing school counselor best practices aligned with American School Counselor Association (ASCA) standards.

• Plan must address staffing every public high school with at least one full-time, twelve-month school counselor to meet ASCA's recommended 200-to-1 student-to-counselor ratio.

• Plan must align school counselor roles and job descriptions with ASCA standards, emphasizing support for students' postsecondary access and success.

• Plan must detail how to provide school counselors with necessary resources and training, and ensure administrators create environments allowing counselors to spend at least 80% of time on direct and indirect student services.

• Board of Education must submit completed plan, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the 2025 Regular Session.