HB 1825, the School Counseling Services Act, has been officially introduced in the House!
Pennsylvania is the only state in the nation that does not require standardized school guidance counseling services in all schools. This legislation would create the School Counseling Services Act and require that schools develop a robust and comprehensive school counseling plan with the goals of improving the transition process following graduation, enhanced access to quality mental health supports, and strengthening relationships between school counselors and students.
The Title of the bill is "Providing for Comprehensive School Counseling Services". It is sponsored by: Rep. Daniel Miller (D), Rep. Maureen Madden (D), Rep. Robert Freeman (D), Rep. Napoleon Nelson (D), Rep. Stephen Kinsey (D), Rep. Michael Schlossberg (D), Rep. Joseph Hohenstein (D), Rep. Ben Sanchez (D), Rep. Jeanne McNeill (D), Rep. Austin Davis (D), Rep. Liz Hanbidge (D), Rep. Kristine Howard (D), Rep. Daniel Deasy (D), and Rep. Ed Neilson (D).
A summary of the bill can be seen below:
Pennsylvania is the only state in the nation that does not require standardized school guidance counseling services in all schools. To make matters worse, as students were forced to pivot during COVID-19, their access to academic planning and career preparation opportunities suffered – all of which were exacerbated by pandemic-related anxiety and depression. My legislation would create the School Counseling Services Act and require that schools develop a robust and comprehensive school counseling plan with the goals of improving the transition process following graduation, enhanced access to quality mental health supports, and strengthening relationships between guidance counselors and students. Guidance counselors fill a tremendous role in students’ lives, often wearing multiple “hats” as they work to ensure students have the tools and resources to succeed beyond graduation, whether they pursue further education or the workforce. This effort would allow schools, parents, and the community to measure a school’s effectiveness in providing a holistic educational experience that seeks to meet the highly individualized needs of all students. Please consider your support of this legislation to align Pennsylvania with the rest of the country to create nurturing and supportive learning environments for Pennsylvania’s next group of leaders.
Read the Bill: