Signed by Governor Phil Murphy

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes program requirements for school counselor certification, specifies the duties of a school counselor, require professional development for school counselors, and establish the position of School Counselor Liaison in the New Jersey state Department of Education.

Highlights:

• Defines school counselor as “an individual who holds a New Jersey standard educational services certificate with a school counselor endorsement” (Sec. 2).

• Requires counselors to compose inclusive programs for students that promote success (Sec. 3).

• Specifies students' needs whether social, emotional, career, or academic will receive adequate counseling (Sec. 3).

• Requires professional guidelines and regulations to be set by the State Board of Education (Sec. 4)

• Specifies that training includes areas of mental health awareness, crisis- intervention, trauma- informed practices, cultural awareness, social and emotional learning, and career and college readiness (Sec. 4).

• Requires the school counseling training program to be completed at an accredited college or university (Sec. 5).

• Establishes a new position, State School Counselor Liaison, be appointed by the Commissioner of Education (Sec. 6).

• Requires State School Counselor Liaison to hold an educational services certificate and experience in providing social and emotion learning (Sec. 6).

• Specifies that the State School Counselor Liaison will serve as a resource expert for other school counselors and promote professional development (Sec. 6).

• Requires State School Counselor Liaison to submit an annual report to the governor detailing their activities during the year (Sec. 6).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes program requirements for school counselor certification, specifies the duties of a school counselor, require professional development for school counselors, and establish the position of School Counselor Liaison in the New Jersey state Department of Education.

Highlights:

• Defines school counselor as “an individual who holds a New Jersey standard educational services certificate with a school counselor endorsement” (Sec. 2).

• Requires counselors to compose inclusive programs for students that promote success (Sec. 3).

• Specifies students' needs whether social, emotional, career, or academic will receive adequate counseling (Sec. 3).

• Requires professional guidelines and regulations to be set by the State Board of Education (Sec. 4)

• Specifies that training includes areas of mental health awareness, crisis- intervention, trauma- informed practices, cultural awareness, social and emotional learning, and career and college readiness (Sec. 4).

• Requires the school counseling training program to be completed at an accredited college or university (Sec. 5).

• Establishes a new position, State School Counselor Liaison, be appointed by the Commissioner of Education (Sec. 6).

• Requires State School Counselor Liaison to hold an educational services certificate and experience in providing social and emotion learning (Sec. 6).

• Specifies that the State School Counselor Liaison will serve as a resource expert for other school counselors and promote professional development (Sec. 6).

• Requires State School Counselor Liaison to submit an annual report to the governor detailing their activities during the year (Sec. 6).

Full Bill Text