The 2023 General Assembly approved Senate Bill 1043, which incorporates consistent statewide definitions and expectations for licensed professional school counselors for the provision of “direct counseling services” and “program planning and school support.” This legislation further defines the role of the school counselor that was established through legislation from House Bill 1729 in the 2019 General Assembly, which amended requirements for the allocation of school counselor staff time. 

This bill went into effect on July 1, 2023, and could mean a change in how school counselors are being utilized in many school divisions. This may include the reallocation of non-counseling duties such as SOL Testing Administration to other staff.  

In an effort to support divisions as they work towards compliance, we have developed a document that provides an overview of the bill and includes the new definitions it prescribes. Additionally, we have a short video that reviews the changes to Code; as well as, some background information regarding what drove this legislative change.