Asking members to reach out to their elected officials to support the Pennsylvania School Counseling Services Act (HB 2218).
Pennsylvania’s HB 2218 would require K–12 school districts and public schools to implement comprehensive school counseling programs aligned across grade levels. The legislation establishes clear expectations for counseling services, including academic advising, college and career planning, mental health supports, and dropout prevention. It also sets a goal for school counselors to spend at least 80 percent of their time working directly with students and families. By strengthening counseling programs statewide, the bill aims to improve student success and expand access to postsecondary opportunities.
We are calling on all members to contact your state senator and urge them to support HB 2218, which recently passed the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the second time with bipartisan support. Pennsylvania is the only state in the nation that does not require defined school counseling programs or school counselors in schools. This legislation is a critical step toward ensuring students receive the support they need by requiring schools to implement comprehensive counseling programs, with a goal of dedicating 80 percent of counselors’ time to direct and indirect student services.