HB 5200 — Requiring that school counselors serving students in preschool through the 12th grade participate in the School Counselors Conference at least once every two years

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Reported on February 5, 2024] Eng CS for HB 5200 A BILL to amend and reenact §18-5-18b of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating generally to required training for school counselors;

requiring that school counselors serving students in grades PK through 12 participate in School Counselors Conference at least once every two years;

setting forth required components of School Counselors Conference;

requiring Conference participants receive certain credentials, graduate credit and continuing education credit;

and requiring that school counselors serving students in grades 7 through 12 participate in training regarding building and trades and apprenticeship programs and setting forth the administration therefore.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 5.

COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION.

§18-5-18b.

School counselors in public schools.

(a) A school counselor means a professional educator who holds a valid school counselor’s certificate in accordance with §18A-1-1 of this code.

(b) Each county board shall provide counseling services for each pupil enrolled in the public schools of the county.

(c) The school counselor shall work with individual pupils and groups of pupils in providing developmental, preventive and remedial guidance and counseling programs to meet academic, social, emotional, and physical needs;

including programs to identify and address the problem of potential school dropouts.

The school counselor also may provide consultant services for parents, teachers, and administrators and may use outside referral services, when appropriate, if no additional cost is incurred by the county board.

(d) The state board may adopt rules consistent with the provisions of this section that define the role of a school counselor based on the "National Standards for School Counseling Programs" of the American School Counselor Association.

A school counselor is authorized to perform such services as are not inconsistent with the provisions of the rule as adopted by the state board.

To the extent that any funds are made available for this purpose, county boards shall 1 Eng CS for HB 5200 provide training for counselors and administrators to implement the rule as adopted by the state board.

(e) Each county board shall develop a comprehensive drop-out prevention program utilizing the expertise of school counselors and any other appropriate resources available.

(f) School counselors shall be full-time professional personnel, shall spend at least 80 percent of work time in a direct counseling relationship with pupils, and shall devote no more than 20 percent of the work day to administrative activities:

Provided, That such activities are counselor related.

(g) Beginning with the 2024—25 school year, school counselors shall participate in the training set forth below.

(1) At least once every 2 years, school counselors serving students in grades PK through 12 shall participate in the School Counselors Conference, which shall address the following components:

(A) Career Counseling and Life Planning, (B) Career awareness, (C) Career and life planning, (D) Career and life success, (E) Opportunities with Career Technical Education available in West Virginia, (F) Post secondary options, (7) Academic Counseling and Personalized Planning, (G) Academic motivation, (H) Goal setting, (I) Academic scheduling, (J) Personalized Education Plans, (K) Dual credit, (L) Learning skills, (M) Personal and Social Counseling, 2 Eng CS for HB 5200 (N) Decision making, (O) Personal responsibility, (P) Conflict resolution, and (Q) Prevention.

(2) Upon completion of the School Counselor Conference training, an advanced credential in Career Counseling and non-degree graduate credits shall be available.

Further, Licensed Professional Counselor continuing education credits shall be available, when applicable, as approved by the West Virginia Board of Examiners in counseling.

(3) Every 2 years, school counselors serving students in grades 7 through 12 shall receive training regarding building and trades and apprenticeship programs available to students in West Virginia.

This training shall be administered by the department of education and provided at no cost to the counselors.

(g) (h) Nothing in this section prohibits a county board from exceeding the provisions of this section, or requires any specific level of funding by the Legislature.