What's happening
This bill requires every public school in New York to employ at least one full-time certified or licensed guidance counselor.
Why it matters
Increases access to student support services. By requiring every school to employ a full-time certified or licensed guidance counselor, the bill ensures that all students—regardless of school size or location—have access to professional counseling services for academic, behavioral, and personal issues.
Addresses a broad range of student needs. The required counselors are tasked not only with academic planning but also with helping students facing attendance, behavioral, or adjustment problems, and with providing education on sensitive topics such as child sexual abuse prevention.
Promotes greater parental engagement. The legislation specifically calls for guidance counselors to encourage parental involvement, recognizing that family engagement is a key factor in student success and well-being.
Sets a statewide minimum standard. By mandating at least one full-time counselor per school (excluding those already funded through special education), the bill sets a uniform baseline of support, potentially reducing disparities between under-resourced and better-funded schools.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Counselors in All Schools
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
4 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Require Guidance Counselors in Schools
In Senate Committee · Education · Sponsor Jesse Hamilton
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3584
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 27, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. ORTIZ -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. CUSICK, LUPARDO, WRIGHT -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring a guidance counselor in each elementary, intermediate, middle, junior high and senior high school
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 803-b to read as follows:
§ 803-b. Full-time school guidance counselors required in elementary, intermediate, middle, junior high and senior high schools. The board of education or trustees of every school district in the state shall on and after July first, two thousand eighteen employ at least one certified or licensed school guidance counselor in each of the schools under their jurisdiction exclusive of any school guidance counselors funded or mandated through any special education funding, aid, regulation or statute. Such school guidance counselor shall perform such duties including, but not limited to: coordinating with the instructional staff to prepare students to participate effectively in their current and future educational programs, helping students who exhibit any attendance, academic, behavioral or adjustment problems, educating students concerning avoidance of child sexual abuse, and encouraging parental involvement.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07768-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.