To update and expand the pathways to certification as a school counselor. The effect will be to allow more professionals to become certified as a school counselor.

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

State Board of Education

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

6A-4.0181Specialization Requirements for Certification in Guidance and Counseling (Grades PK-12) - Specialty Class Beginning July 1, 1990

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: To update and expand the pathways to certification as a school counselor. The effect will be to allow more professionals to become certified as a school counselor.

SUMMARY: Currently, the rule allows professionals two pathways to earn a certification as a school counselor. The proposed rule will create an additional pathway for professionals to become certified as a school counselor. Schools will be able to hire more professionals by creating additional pathways to become certified as a school counselor. The rule will provide professional credentials to align with the level of mental health services provided in school.

SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION:

The Agency has determined that this will not have an adverse impact on small business or likely increase directly or indirectly regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate within one year after the implementation of the rule. A SERC has not been prepared by the Agency.

The Agency has determined that the proposed rule is not expected to require legislative ratification based on the statement of estimated regulatory costs or if no SERC is required, the information expressly relied upon and described herein: This proposed rule is not expected to have any adverse impact on economic growth, business competitiveness or any other factors listed in s. 120.541(2)(a), F.S., and will not require legislative ratification.

Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 1001.02, 1012.55, 1012.56, FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1001.02, 1012.54, 1012.55, 1012.56, FS.

A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:

DATE AND TIME: August 21, 2019, 9:00 a.m.

PLACE: Broward College, 111 E. Las Olas Blvd., Room 1208, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33301.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Monica Verra-Tirado, Ed.D., Chief, Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400, [phone].

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

Substantial rewording of Rule 6A-4.0181, F.A.C., follows. See Florida Administrative Code for present text:

6A-4.0181 Specialization Requirements for Certification in School Guidance and Counseling (Grades PK-12) – Specialty Class Beginning July 1, 1990.

(1) Plan One. A master’s or higher degree with a graduate major in guidance and counseling or school counseling that includes a minimum of six-hundred (600) clock hours of supervised practicum/internship serving school-aged students in a prekindergarten, an elementary or a secondary school setting; or

(2) Plan Two. A master’s or higher degree with a graduate major in counseling other than guidance and counseling or school counseling as specified in subsection (1) of this rule that includes a minimum of six-hundred (600) clock hours of supervised practicum/internship with school-aged children and their families in a setting other than a prekindergarten, an elementary or a secondary school with at least nine (9) semester hours of graduate credit to include the following specified areas:

(a) Student appraisal and evaluation methods in prekindergarten, elementary and secondary schools including interpretation and analysis of standardized tests and other assessment results that assist students in career exploration, academic skills and personal/social skill development;

(b) College and career planning for prekindergarten, elementary and secondary school students including college and career exploration and knowledge of financial aid and financing of postsecondary education options;

(c) Principles, philosophy, organization and administration of a comprehensive school counseling program in prekindergarten, elementary and secondary schools;

(d) Consultation skills and techniques for conferring with groups such as agencies, teachers and parents; and

(e) Verification submitted by employer to attest that a school counselor with a state-issued professional certificate as specified in Rule 6A-4.004, F.A.C., will be assigned as the applicant’s mentor during the first two (2) years of employment as a school counselor; or

(3) Plan Three. A master’s or higher degree with a major in an education field and verification of three (3) years of full-time teaching experience as specified in paragraph 6A-4.002(5)(a), F.A.C., with thirty (30) semester hours of graduate credit with associated field experience to include the following specified areas:

(a) Principles, philosophy, organization and administration of a comprehensive school counseling program in prekindergarten, elementary and secondary schools;

(b) Student appraisal and evaluation methods in prekindergarten, elementary and secondary schools including interpretation and analysis of standardized tests and other assessment results that assist students in career exploration, academic skills and personal/social skill development;

(c) College and career planning for prekindergarten, elementary and secondary school students including college and career exploration and knowledge of financial and financing postsecondary options;

(d) Learning and human development theories;

(e) Counseling theories appropriate for students in prekindergarten, elementary and secondary schools;

(f) Individual counseling techniques appropriate for students in prekindergarten, elementary and secondary schools;

(g) Group counseling techniques appropriate in prekindergarten, elementary and secondary schools including psycho-educational and counseling for large and small groups;

(h) Consultation skills and techniques for conferring with groups such as agencies, teachers and parents;

(i) Legal, ethical, advocacy, equity and current policy issues affecting prekindergarten, elementary and secondary school counselors and school counseling programs, including confidentiality practices appropriate to school counseling;

(j) Counseling interventions provided through a multi-tiered system of supports framework for use with prekindergarten-, elementary- or secondary-level special populations, such as students with exceptional needs; students who are ethnically, racially, culturally or linguistically diverse; students of varying socioeconomic status; students exposed to trauma; and students at risk of dropping out, to include knowledge of the unique needs of these populations;

(k) Social and cultural diversity including coverage of multicultural counseling competencies and strategies for eliminating barriers to prekindergarten, elementary and secondary student achievement;

(l) Program evaluation and accountability including evidence-based practices, qualitative and quantitative research methods, needs assessment, data analysis and interpretation, and use of data in prekindergarten, elementary and secondary school counseling; and

(m) Verification submitted by employer to attest that a school counselor with a state-issued professional certificate as specified in Rule 6A-4.004, F.A.C., will be assigned as the applicant’s mentor during the first two (2) years of employment as a school counselor.

Rulemaking Authority 1001.02, 1012.55, 1012.56 FS. Law Implemented 1001.02, 1012.54, 1012.55, 1012.56 FS. History–New 7-1-90, Amended,

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Dr. Paul Burns, Deputy Chancellor, Educator Equality

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Richard Corcoran, Commissioner, Department of Education.

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: July 22, 2019

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: June 11, 2019