HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3017        FILED ON: 1/16/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Carol A. Doherty and Ryan M. Hamilton

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act establishing comprehensive school counseling programs.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3017        FILED ON: 1/16/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act establishing comprehensive school counseling programs.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition is hereby amended by inserting the following:-

“Each public school district shall develop and implement a comprehensive school counseling program that adheres to the Massachusetts Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs and ensures all pre-K to grade twelve (12) students will receive school counseling services from licensed school counselors. In accordance with the Model, each school counselor is to spend at least eighty percent (80%) of that school counselor’s time providing direct or indirect services to students. To maintain equity in student access to a school counselor, each district shall provide one (1) school counselor for a maximum of two hundred fifty (250) students, the nationally recommended average.”