S 447: Requires at least one full-time guidance counselor to be employed in each elementary, intermediate, middle, junior and senior high school throughout the state; sets duties of guidance counselors.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 447 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN SENATE (Prefiled) January 8, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sens. GOUNARDES, COONEY, JACKSON, RAMOS, SALAZAR -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed 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 Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 803-c 2 to read as follows: 3 § 803-c. Full-time school guidance counselors required in elementary, 4 intermediate, middle, junior high and senior high schools. The board of 5 education or trustees of every school district in the state shall on and 6 after July first, two thousand twenty-six employ at least one certified 7 or licensed school guidance counselor in each of the schools under their 8 jurisdiction exclusive of any school guidance counselors funded or 9 mandated through any special education funding, aid, regulation or stat- 10 ute. Such school guidance counselor shall perform such duties includ- 11 ing, but not limited to: coordinating with the instructional staff to 12 prepare students to participate effectively in their current and future 13 educational programs, helping students who exhibit any attendance, 14 academic, behavioral or adjustment problems, educating students concern- 15 ing avoidance of child sexual abuse, and encouraging parental involve- 16 ment. 17 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD01376-01-5