A8390 — Requires the department of education to report information regarding counselors, social workers and psychologists in schools

Summary

Requires the department of education to report information regarding counselors, social workers and psychologists in schools and to implement a plan to increase the school counselor, school social worker and school psychologist to student ratio to nationally accepted standards and provide funding for such.

Bill Text

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Compared against the New York Consolidated Laws as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

This bill amends 1 section(s) of the New York Consolidated Laws: Section 305 of the education law.

• Section 305 of the education law

  63. a. The commissioner shall submit to the governor, the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly, a report regarding school counselors, school social workers and school psychol- ogists for the current school year. Such report shall include, but not be limited to: (i) the number of full and part-time school counselors, school social workers and school psychologists in each school, (ii) the ratio of students to the number of school counselors, the ratio of students to the number of school social workers, and the ratio of students to the number of school psychologists in each school, and (iii) whether the school counselor, school social worker or school psychol- ogist is providing counseling assistance to more than one school. b. After such report is issued, the commissioner shall prepare a proposal on how to increase the number of school counselors, school social workers and school psychologists to meet the nationally accepted ratio of students to the number of school counselors, ratio of students to the number of school social workers, and ratio of students to the number of school psychologists within New York state such as those recommended by the school social work association of America, the Ameri- can school counselors association and the national association of school psychologists. When preparing such proposal, the commissioner shall take italics into consideration the specific needs of individual school districts and the region in which such school district is located. c. For purposes of this subdivision, the following terms shall have the following meanings: (i) "school counselor" shall mean any personnel, licensed and certi- fied by New York state as school counselor, hired to provide individual or group counseling assistance to students in the elementary, middle, or high school grades; (ii) "school social worker" shall mean any personnel, licensed and certified by New York state as a school social worker, hired to provide individual or group counseling assistance to students in the elementary, middle, or high school grades; and (iii) "school psychologist" shall mean any personnel, licensed and certified by New York state as a school psychologist, hired to provide individual or group counseling assistance to students in the elementary, middle, or high school grades. 21. In addition to the apportionments payable to a school district pursuant to this section, the commissioner is hereby authorized to apportion to any school district additional aid pursuant to this subdi- vision for its approved expenditures in the base year for the employment of school counselors, school social workers and/or school psychologists. The commissioner shall annually prescribe a cost allowance for such school counselors, school social workers and/or school psychologists and the approved expenditures shall not exceed such cost allowance.

  added

Action History

1. January 07, 2026

   REFERRED TO EDUCATION

2. May 13, 2025

   REFERRED TO EDUCATION

Sponsors

• Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas · Primary

Subjects