Bill Text: NJ S3103 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires that school counselor preparation programs include credits on college and financial planning and that school districts provide professional development opportunities to school counselors on these topics.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-05-01 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee [S3103 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-S3103-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator NICHOLAS J. SACCO
District 32 (Bergen and Hudson)
Senator NELLIE POU
District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Requires that school counselor preparation programs include credits on college and financial planning and that school districts provide professional development opportunities to school counselors on these topics.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning school counselors and supplementing chapter 26 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. In addition to any other requirements adopted by the State Board of Education for educator preparation programs, the State board shall require that the preparation program for an educational services certification with a school counselor endorsement include a minimum number of graduate semester hour credits in college and financial aid planning.
2. A board of education shall provide its school counselors with ongoing professional development opportunities that enhance their knowledge of the college selection and college financial planning processes.
3. This act shall take effect in the first full school year following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill provides that the State Board of Education must require educator preparation programs for school counselors to include a minimum number of graduate semester hour credits in college and financial aid planning. In addition, under the provisions of the bill, a board of education is required to provide its school counselors with ongoing professional development opportunities that enhance their knowledge of the college selection and college financial planning processes.
This bill is designed to enhance the knowledge of school counselors in college and financial aid planning in recognition of the valuable role these individuals play in the college planning process for students and their families. This bill implements a recommendation of the College Affordability Study Commission which released its final report in September, 2016.
