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FAQs
School Counselor Credentials and Assignments
Please see the PDF document linked below for a CCTC statement regarding the inappropriateness of school psychologists conducting AB 1802 conferences.
View: PDF file, CCTCcorrespondence.pdf (28KB)
Middle & High School Counseling Program FAQs
Frequently asked questions about the Middle and High School Supplemental School Counseling Program
Questions - Program
Questions - Reporting
Questions - Fiscal
Program
What is the purpose of the Middle and High School Supplemental Counseling Program?
The Governor's 2006-07 Budget Highlights document states, "The Budget includes $200 million ongoing Proposition 98 General Fund to increase the number of school counselors that serve seventh- through twelfth-grade students. These new counselors will provide students with information on all educational and vocational options available to them and serve students who have failed or are at risk of failing the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE), as well as students who are at risk of not graduating due to insufficient credits." The authorizing statute, Education Code (EC) 52378, et seq , further specifies that the funding will be available to school districts for these purposes. It is important to note that the statute is intended first to serve all students in seventh through twelfth grades, with additional attention to those who have failed or are at risk of failing the CAHSEE, as well as students who are at risk of not graduating due to insufficient credits. Support for these school counseling professionals, such as professional development, would also be allowable through this funding.
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What are the specific implementation requirements of the Middle and High School Supplemental Counseling Program?
Assembly Bill 1802, Subdivision A, outlines two provisions for the program:
- A provision for individualized review of the pupil's academic and deportment records.
- A provision for a counselor to meet with each pupil and, if practicable, the parent(s) or guardian(s) of the pupil, to discuss:
- the academic and deportment records of the pupil
- the pupil's educational options
- the coursework and academic progress necessary for the pupil's satisfactory completion of high school
- the pupil's passage of the CAHSEE
- the pupil's options in career technical education and postsecondary plans, to include Regional Occupation Programs and other alternatives within the district
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Who may apply to participate in the Middle and High School Supplemental Counseling Program?
Any public school district in the state of California that serves pupils in grades seven through twelve and, to a limited extent, charter schools. County offices of education, charter schools not affiliated with a school district, and other private schools are not eligible for the 2006-07 funding cycle.
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What are the timelines for program implementation?
The statute requires that "For a pupil enrolled in grade ten, the conference shall occur between the spring of that school year in which the pupil is enrolled in grade ten and the fall of the following school year in which the pupil would be enrolled in grade eleven. For the 2006-07 school year , the conference shall occur on or before December 31, 2006." These would be the eleventh-grade students this year as they were in the tenth grade in the spring of 2006."
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Whom may I contact regarding program questions?
Contact George Montgomery, President Elect, California Association of School Counselors (CASC) at 916-319-0540 or by e-mail at president-elect@schoolcounselor-ca.org.
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Reporting
Are there any reporting requirements as a condition of receiving these funds?
EC Section 52380 states, "As a condition of receipt of funds pursuant to this chapter, a school district shall submit an annual report in a manner determined by the Superintendent that describes the number of pupils served, the number of school counselors involved in conferences, the number and percentage of pupils who participated in conferences and who successfully pass the high school exit examination, and the number and percentage of pupils who participated in conferences and who fail to pass one or both sections of the high school exit examination, and a summary of the most prevalent results for pupils based on the graduation plans developed pursuant to this chapter."
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What specific information is required in the report?
Applicants are instructed to be prepared to submit data relevant to all Program Specific Assurances. A sample template of the entire annual report will be available February 1, 2007. The minimum information required is noted above in question 1 .
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Who do I contact regarding reporting questions if they are not answered here?
For additional reporting information regarding the Middle and High School Supplemental Counseling Program, please contact Deirdre Ransome, Education Programs Consultant, Educational Options Office, at 916-323-3927 or by e-mail at dransome@cde.ca.gov.
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Fiscal
Does my local board need to take action prior to applying for these funds?
No. However, prior to the receipt of Middle and High School Supplemental Counseling program funding, each local governing board must adopt a counseling program at a public meeting that includes the following:
- A provision for individualized review of a pupil's academic and deportment records.
- A provision for counselors to meet with each pupil and, where practicable, each pupil's parent(s) or guardian(s) to explain the pupil's records, educational options, coursework, and academic progress needed for satisfactory completion of middle or high school, passage of the CAHSEE, and the availability of career technical education. The educational options explained at the meeting shall, if services are available, include college preparatory programs and vocational programs, including Regional Occupational Centers and Programs and any other alternatives available to pupils within the district.
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Are there other conditions of receiving program funds?
Yes. As a condition of receiving Middle and High School Supplemental Counseling program funding, each school district and direct-funded charter school must:
- Identify pupils who are at risk of not graduating with their class, not earning credits at a rate that will enable them to pass the CAHSEE or not possessing sufficient training to allow them to fully engage in a chosen career.
- Require each school within the district's jurisdiction that enrolls pupils in grades ten and twelve to develop a list of coursework and experience necessary to help each pupil that has not passed one or both parts of the CAHSEE to transition to postsecondary education or employment.
- Include, for pupils in grade twelve, options for continuing his or her education if he or she fails to meet graduation requirements in the above list of coursework and experience.
- Require each school within the district's jurisdiction that enrolls pupils in grade seven to develop a list of coursework and experience necessary to assist each pupil who is deemed to be at or far below basic level in English language arts or mathematics to successfully transition to high school and meet all graduation requirements, including passing the CAHSEE.
- Provide a copy of the applicable list of coursework and experience to each pupil and his or her parent(s) or guardian(s), and include the list of coursework and experience in the pupil's cumulative records.
- Require each school within its jurisdiction to offer and schedule an individual conference with each pupil in grade seven who is deemed to be at far below the basic level in English language arts or mathematics, the pupil's parent(s) or guardian(s), and a counselor. This conference must occur before January of the school year in which the pupil is in grade seven.
- Require each school within its jurisdiction to offer and schedule an individual conference with each pupil in grades ten and twelve who has not passed one or both sections of the CAHSEE, the pupil's parent(s) or guardian(s), and a counselor.
- For pupils in grade ten, the conference must occur between the spring of the school year in which the pupil is enrolled in grade ten and the fall of the following school year. For the 2006-07 school year , the conference shall occur on or before December 31, 2006.
- For pupils in grade twelve, the conference must occur after November, but before March of the school year in which the pupil is enrolled in grade twelve.
- During these individual conferences, the school counselor must apprise the pupil and the pupil's parent(s) or guardian(s) of the following:
- The consequences of not passing the CAHSEE
- The available programs, courses, and career technical education options needed by the pupil for satisfactory completion of middle or high school
- The cumulative records and transcripts of the pupil
- The pupil's performance on standardized and diagnostic assessments
- The remediation strategies, high school courses, and alternative education options available to the pupil
- Information on postsecondary education and training
- The pupil's score on the English language arts or mathematics portion of the California Standards Test administered in grade six, as applicable
- Submit an annual report, including the number of school counselors involved in conferences, the number and percentage of pupils who participated in conferences and who fail to pass one or both sections of the CAHSEE, and a summary of the most prevalent results for pupils based on graduation plans.
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How do I apply for funding?
In order to receive Middle and High School Supplemental Counseling program funding, school districts and direct-funded charter schools serving any of grades seven through twelve must submit signed documentation to the California Department of Education (CDE) accepting the conditions and assurances of the program by December 8, 2006. The CDE will send out notifications of the program with conditions and assurances of the Middle and High School Supplemental Counseling program to local educational agencies in late October 2006.
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May I choose to apply next year if I don't apply this year?
Yes. We anticipate that the invitation to participate in the program will occur annually through the submission of the assurances via the Consolidated Application Process.
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How much money will I receive?
Each participating school district's 2006-07 allocation will be based on a per-pupil amount, with minimum awards of $5,000 per school site with 100 or fewer pupils in grades seven through twelve, $10,000 per school site with between 101 and 200 pupils in grades seven through twelve, and $30,000 per school site with more than 200 pupils in grades seven through twelve. Each participating charter school's 2006-07 allocation will be based on a per-pupil amount, with no minimum grant award. Pupil counts used for the allocations will be based on prior year California Basic Educational Data System (CBEDS) enrollment in grades seven through twelve. The specific per-pupil rate will depend upon the number of applicant school districts and charter schools and their enrollment in grades seven through twelve.
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Will that amount change each year?
Possibly. Each year the district's entitlement will be based on the number of districts choosing to participate in the program and the number of pupils reported in grades seven through twelve on the prior year's CBEDS collection. The $200 million total program funding will not change unless done so through the legislative budgeting process.
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When will I receive funding, and how will the money be allocated?as a lump sum or in partial payments?
Funding will be allocated in two apportionments. The first 75 percent of Middle and High School Counseling program funding will be allocated in December 2006. The remaining 25 percent will be allocated in the following spring.
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Are the funds for a specific school site or for the district?
Middle and High School Supplemental Counseling funding will be apportioned to applicant school districts and direct-funded charter schools for the purpose of supplementing existing counseling services to students by credentialed school counselors. As a condition of receiving these funds, local governing boards must adopt a counseling program that meets specified criteria, and school districts and direct-funded charter schools must meet specific criteria regarding services provided to pupils and annual reporting to the CDE. In implementing the Middle and High School Supplemental Counseling program, school districts and direct-funded charter schools should allocate funds to school sites to meet the requirements in state law and their adopted program.
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What may be purchased with these funds?
Middle and High School Supplemental Counseling program funding must be used to provide counseling services to students by counselors with a valid Pupil Personnel Services Credential . Priority for services must go to serving pupils who have failed or are at risk of failing the CAHSEE or who are at risk of not graduating due to insufficient credits. These funds must be used to supplement the existing number of school counselors that serve students in grades seven through twelve.
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May I charge indirect costs to the program?
Yes, consistent with the CDE's existing indirect cost rate guidance, the Middle and High School Supplemental Counseling Program may be charged for indirect costs, provided the amount charged does not exceed the local educational agency's approved indirect cost rate. Further information on indirect costs can be found on CDE's Web site at http://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/ac/ic/ .
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Who do I contact regarding fiscal questions if they are not answered here?
For additional fiscal information regarding the Middle and High School Supplemental Counseling Program, please contact Wendi McCaskill , Education Fiscal Services Consultant, Categorical Programs Unit, at 916-323-6191 or by e-mail at wmccaskill@cde.ca.gov .
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How much funding is available for the Middle and High School Supplemental Counseling program?
The Budget Act of 2006 provides $200,000,000 in funding for the Middle and High School Supplemental Counseling program.
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What is the Resource Code for the Middle and High School Supplemental Counseling program?
The Middle and High School Supplemental Counseling program Resource Code is 7080.
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What is the Revenue Object Code for the Middle and High School Supplemental Counseling program?
The Middle and High School Supplemental Counseling program Revenue Object Code is 8590.
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