BILL NUMBER: S376
SPONSOR: BROUK
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to requiring the depart-
ment of education to report information regarding counselors, social
workers and psychologists in schools
 
PURPOSE:
To gather information in order to provide better counseling services to
our students throughout the state by ensuring the state meets the
nationally accepted level of school counselors, school social workers,
and school psychologists per school.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends the Education Law to direct the Commissioner of Educa-
tion to submit a report to the Governor, temporary President of the
Senate, and the Speaker of the Assembly, and specifies the data the
Commissioner must include in such report. Following the report, the
Commissioner must develop a proposal to increase the number of school
counselors, school social workers, and school psychologists to meet
nationally accepted counseling professional to student ratios in New
York State.
Section 2 provides the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The American School Counselor Association recommends a ratio of 1:250
school counselors to students; in New York, the ratio is more than twice
that, at 1:635 school counselors. Similarly, the School Social Work
Association of America recommends a ratio of 1:250 school social workers
to students, and an even lower ratio of 1:50 where students require more
intensive care. The National Association of School Psychologists recom-
mends a ratio of 1:500-700 school psychologists to students, a ratio
that New York met in the 2009-2010 school year with a ratio of 1:600.
With the guidance of school counselors, school social workers, and
school psychologists, students stand a greater chance to succeed in
their education and establish a concrete path to their futures. This
bill seeks to increase access to mental health services in our schools
by first tracking the number of school counselors, school social work-
ers, and school psychologists who serve students throughout the state,
and directs the state Education Commissioner to develop a plan to
achieve nationally accepted professional-to-student ratios in every
district and region.
The bill also provides that any additional expense incurred by local
districts in meeting the standards for school counselors, psychologists,
and social workers should be reimbursed by the state.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2021-22: S8566 Referred to Education.
2023: S1577 Passed Senate.
2024: S1577 Referred to Education.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S376: 305 education law, 3602 education law