A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to ensure that school counselors spend their time providing direct services to students.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Article 21 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 115C‑316.1.  Duties of school counselors.
(a)	School counselors shall implement a comprehensive developmental school counseling program in their schools. Counselors shall spend at least eighty percent (80%) of their work time providing direct services to students. Direct services do not include the coordination of standardized testing. Direct services shall consist of:
(1)	Delivering the school guidance curriculum through large‑group guidance, interdisciplinary curriculum development, group activities, and parent workshops;
(2)	Guiding individual student planning through individual or small‑group assistance and individual or small‑group advisement;
(3)	Providing responsive services through consultation with students, families, and staff; individual and small‑group counseling; crisis counseling; referrals; and peer facilitation; and
(4)	Performing other student services listed in the Department of Public Instruction school counselor job description that has been approved by the State Board of Education.
(b)	During the remainder of their work time, counselors shall spend adequate time on school counseling program support activities that consist of professional development; consultation, collaboration, and training; and program management and operations. School counseling program support activities do not include the coordination of standardized testing. However, school counselors may assist other staff with the coordination of standardized testing."
SECTION 2.  Prior to the 2006‑2007 school year, each local board of education shall develop a transition plan for implementing Section 1 of this act, within existing resources, by reassigning duties within its schools.
The State Board of Education shall distribute guidelines to all local school administrative units on the implementation of this act.
SECTION 3.  The State Board of Education shall report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on the implementation of this act.
SECTION 4. This act is effective when it becomes law.  Section 1 of this act applies to school years beginning with the 2006‑2007 school year.