ASSEMBLY, No. 1516
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
220th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2022 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT
District 31 (Hudson)
Assemblywoman VERLINA REYNOLDS-JACKSON
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Assemblywoman SADAF F. JAFFER
District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Simonsen, Assemblywoman Matsikoudis, Assemblymen Umba, Atkins, Assemblywomen Flynn, McCarthy Patrick, Speight, Assemblymen Stanley and Moriarty
SYNOPSIS
Establishes certain program requirements for school counselor certification; outlines role and duties of school counselor; requires professional development for school counselors; establishes position of School Counselor Liaison in DOE.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Assembly Education Committee on September 22, 2022, with amendments.
An Act concerning school counselors and supplementing Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Legislature finds and declares that the Department of Education’s guidance document on the reopening of schools during the COVID-19 pandemic, “The Road Back: Restart and Recovery Plan,” directs school districts to consider the impact of social isolation on both educators and students, and recommends that school district reopening plans include the use of social and emotional learning and multi-tiered systems of support to address the social and emotional needs of students. The Legislature further finds that school counselors are vital to the effort to ensure that school districts are able to adequately address these student needs and to implement appropriate programming.
2. As used in sections 3 and 4 of this act, “school counselor” means an individual who holds a New Jersey standard educational services certificate with a school counselor endorsement.
3. a. It shall be the role of a school counselor to:
(1) recognize and respond to the need for mental health services that promote social and emotional wellness and development for all students; and
(2) design and deliver a comprehensive program for school counseling that promotes the achievement of students.
b. Each school counselor employed by a board of education in a public elementary, middle, or high school shall 1[spend at least 80 percent of their staff time during normal school hours providing] provide1 appropriate school counseling services that shall include, but not be limited to:
(1) addressing needs relating to the academic, career, social, and emotional development of all students;
(2) individual student academic planning and goal setting;
(3) school counseling classroom lessons based on student success standards;
(4) short-term counseling of students;
(5) referrals for long-term services and supports;
(6) collaboration with families, teachers, administrators, and community members that fosters student success;
(7) advocacy for students at 1[individual education plan] individualized education program1 (IEP) meetings and other student-focused meetings; and
(8) data analysis to identify student issues, needs, and challenges.
4. The State Board of Education shall establish professional development requirements for school counselors. The State board shall require, as part of the professional development requirements, that each school counselor complete 1[100 hours of]1 professional development training 1[every five years]1 in areas related to the duties of a school counselor including, but not limited to, the promotion of mental health awareness, suicide prevention, crisis-intervention, trauma-informed counseling practices, cultural competency and responsiveness, the New Jersey Tiered System of Supports, delivery of social and emotional learning programming, and college and career readiness.
5. In addition to any other requirements adopted by the State Board of Education for school counseling programs, the State board shall require that a school counseling program at a regionally accredited college or university leading to a standard educational services certificate with a school counselor endorsement incorporate the following:
a. the American School Counselor Association’s national model for comprehensive school counseling programs 1or a State-approved model1; and
b. training in the delivery of social and emotional learning programming as well as postsecondary and career planning.
6. a. The Commissioner of Education shall appoint a State School Counselor Liaison. The State School Counselor Liaison shall hold a New Jersey standard educational services certificate with a director of school counseling services endorsement and have experience in the delivery of social and emotional learning programming as well as postsecondary and career advisement. The State School Counselor Liaison shall work with school districts and school counselors to facilitate best practices by advancing comprehensive school counseling services that address the mental and behavioral health and wellness of all students. The State School Counselor Liaison, in performing the duties of the position, shall collaborate with other State agencies and associated stakeholders.
b. It shall be the duty of the State School Counselor Liaison to:
(1) serve as a liaison and resource expert in school counseling and comprehensive school counseling services for New Jersey certificated school counselors and the Department of Education;
(2) foster and promote professional development for school counselors, which may include planning, coordinating, or providing educational guidance, and networking with universities, the New Jersey School Counselor Association, and other providers of continuing education to meet identified needs;
(3) monitor, interpret, synthesize, and disseminate relevant information associated with changes in school counseling practices, legislation, and legal issues that impact school counselors; and
(4) initiate, participate in, and utilize research studies related to school counseling practices, the mental health needs of children and youth, and related issues.
c. The State School Counselor Liaison shall report annually to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), the Legislature. The report shall include a summary of the activities of the State School Counselor Liaison during the year and any specific recommendations deemed appropriate and necessary concerning school counseling services and comprehensive school mental health services.
d. As used in this section, “school counselor” means an individual who holds a New Jersey standard educational services certificate with a school counselor endorsement.
7. The State Board of Education shall adopt, in accordance with the “Administrative Procedures Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this act.
8. This act shall take effect immediately.