New York Senate Bill S00447

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/8/25
• Refer: 1/8/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Requires at least one full-time guidance counselor to be employed in each elementary, intermediate, middle, junior and senior high school throughout the state; sets duties of guidance counselors.

Summary

S00447 would amend the New York Education Law to require every school district to employ at least one certified or licensed full-time school guidance counselor in each elementary, intermediate, middle, junior high, and senior high school under its jurisdiction, beginning July 1, 2026. The requirement would apply to schools statewide, except for counselors already funded or mandated through special education funding, aid, regulation, or statute. The bill also defines core duties for school guidance counselors, including coordinating with instructional staff to support students’ current and future educational programs, assisting students with attendance, academic, behavioral, or adjustment problems, educating students about avoiding child sexual abuse, and encouraging parental involvement. The measure takes effect immediately, though the staffing mandate itself begins in 2026.

Impact

If enacted, the bill would create a statewide minimum staffing requirement for school guidance counselors in New York public schools and would add a new section to the Education Law. School districts would need to ensure each covered school has at least one certified or licensed counselor, which could affect staffing plans, budgets, and hiring practices. The bill would also formalize counselor responsibilities in statute, potentially influencing school counseling programs and student support services across the state.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears to be framed as a student-support and school-services bill with no recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials. The sponsors’ selection and the bill’s language suggest a generally supportive intent toward expanding access to counseling services in schools. Because no transcripts or vote history are available, there is no documented opposition or endorsement in the supplied record.

Contention

The main potential points of contention are likely to be cost, staffing feasibility, and local control. School districts may need to hire additional certified or licensed counselors to meet the mandate, which could be challenging for smaller or under-resourced districts. Another possible issue is whether the state should impose a uniform staffing requirement on every school, and whether the exception for counselors funded through special education-related sources is sufficient or creates ambiguity about compliance.