Pennsylvania HB 2218: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, providing for comprehensive school counseling services.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 2912
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2218
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY STEELE, RIVERA, PROBST, SANCHEZ, D. WILLIAMS,
HILL-EVANS, INGLIS, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, MADDEN, FREEMAN, McNEILL,
SCHWEYER, MAYES AND SHUSTERMAN, FEBRUARY 12, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 13, 2026
AN ACT
Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
act relating to the public school system, including certain
provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
laws relating thereto," providing for comprehensive school
counseling services.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding an
article to read:
ARTICLE XIII-F
COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL COUNSELING SERVICES
Section 1301-F. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this article
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Department." The Department of Education of the
Commonwealth.
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"Direct services." As follows:
(1) Services that are provided face-to-face, in person
or virtually with students.
(2) The term includes the following:
(i) Classroom instruction.
(ii) Individual and group counseling for students.
(iii) Responsive services on behalf of a student
whose immediate personal concerns and problems put the
student's academic, career or social and emotional
development at risk. Responsive services include the
administration of a risk-assessment.
(iv) Interventions for a student who is:
(A) at risk of dropping out of school; or
(B) exhibiting dangerous behaviors, such as drug
use, self-harm or gang activity.
"Indirect services." Consultations among a student, a parent
or legal guardian of the student, school staff and community
agencies concerning the student's academic, career or social and
emotional needs.
"Plan." The comprehensive school counseling plan under
section 1302-F.
"Program planning and school support." Duties that are not
directly related to the plan and are absent of any direct
student services or interaction.
"School counselor." An individual who holds a valid
certificate for Elementary and Secondary School Counselor issued
by the department which qualifies the individual to be employed
by and working within a school entity.
"School entity." Any of the following:
(1) A school district.
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(2) An intermediate unit as described in Article IX-A.
(3) A charter school as defined in section 1703-A.
(4) A cyber charter school as defined in section 1703-A.
(5) A regional charter school as defined in section
1703-A.
(6) An area career and technical school as described in
section 1841.
Section 1302-F. Comprehensive school counseling plan.
(a) Authorization and purpose.-- Each school entity shall
develop and implement a written comprehensive school counseling
plan that ensures that student services are coordinated in a
manner that provides comprehensive and developmental support to
all students of the school entity.
(b) Requirements generally.--A plan must:
(1) Be implemented by a Pennsylvania-certified school
counselor or counseling team working within each school in
the school entity.
(2) Utilize nationally recognized and State-recognized
counselor frameworks.
(3) Be reviewed annually and updated as needed by the
school counselor or counseling team, in collaboration with
each affected building principal as well as other
stakeholders and staff of each school entity.
(4) Be systemically aligned from kindergarten through
grade 12 within the school entity, including transitions
across schools within the school entity.
(5) Include sections for each grade and building within
the school entity, including student transitions between
grades and buildings as well as student transition to other
school entities.
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( 6) Be reflected in and integrated alongside the school
entity's student services plan as required under 22 Pa. Code
§ 4.13 (relating to strategic plans) or any successor
regulation.
(c) Components.--A plan must contain the following:
(1) A foundation component, which must include:
(i) A vision statement.
(ii) A mission statement.
(iii) Plan goals.
(2) A management component, which utilizes assessments
and other data to develop, implement and evaluate the plan.
(3) A delivery component, which focuses on direct
services and indirect services through the implementation of
the plan and which shall include:
(i) A plan for each grade taught by the school
entity.
( ii) A plan for students with individualized
education programs and other special needs.
(iii) A plan for each building in