PA SB33

Requires all Pennsylvania school entities (school districts, intermediate units, charter schools, cyber charter schools, and area career and technical schools) to develop and implement written comprehensive school counseling plans covering grades K-12

Mandates school counselors spend at least 80% of working time during student contact days on direct services (classroom instruction, individual/group counseling, risk assessments, interventions) and indirect services (consultations with parents, staff, and community agencies)

Plans must include four components: foundation (vision, mission, goals), management (data-driven development), delivery (grade-specific and building-specific services including IEP students), and accountability (regular analysis)

School counselors must provide academic advisement, career planning, social-emotional skills programs (including bullying prevention and suicide awareness), dropout intervention, and serve on decision-making teams such as IEP, MTSS/RTI, and English learner programs

Department of Education must employ at least one certified school counselor, monitor compliance beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, and provide technical assistance to school entities