The 2019 Oregon Legislature passed HB 2876, which created a new law that specifies TSPC licensed school counselors, school social workers, or any combination of persons qualified as determined by rules adopted by the State Board of Education, are those who can design, deliver, or otherwise implement a coordinated comprehensive school counseling program.

ODE is currently seeking public comments on the updated proposed rule language for Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 581-022-2060 Comprehensive School Counseling. Please review the entire rule and respond to the questions for only section (3)(a)(C), which includes sub-sections (i)-(ix). Thank you for your valuable time and expertise.

581-022-2060
Comprehensive School Counseling

(1)(a) District Comprehensive School Counseling. Each school district shall provide a coordinated comprehensive school counseling program to support the academic, career, social-emotional, and community involvement development of each and every student. The district shall:
(b) Adopt comprehensive school counseling program goals that assist students to:
(A) Understand and utilize the educational opportunities and alternatives available to them;
(B) Meet academic standards;
(C) Establish tentative career and educational goals;
(D) Create and maintain an education plan and education portfolio;
(E) Demonstrate the ability to utilize personal qualities, education and training, in the world of work;
(F) Develop decision-making skills;
(G) Obtain information about self;
(H) Accept increasing responsibility for their own actions, including the development of self-advocacy skills;
(I) Develop skills in interpersonal relations, including the use of affective and receptive communication;
(J) Utilize school and community resources;
(K) Demonstrate and discuss personal contributions to the larger community; and
(L) Know where and how to utilize personal skills in making contributions to the community.

(2) School Comprehensive Counseling. Each school shall provide a comprehensive counseling program that serves students grades K-12, based upon Oregon’s Framework for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs which:
(a) Identifies staff responsibilities to plan, design and deliver a comprehensive school counseling program that meets the unique needs of their students and community;
(b) Aligns with the district’s school improvement plans;
(c) Assigns counseling responsibilities to the appropriate personnel;
(d) Expects all school staff to participate in implementing the comprehensive school counseling program; and
(e) Assists each student to develop, and annually review, an educational plan (a formalized plan and process in which students establish their education, career and life goals, identify learning goals and connect them to activities that will help them achieve their goals) in grades 7-12.

(3) Counseling Staff Assignments. Each school district shall maintain a licensed staff and promote effective counseling and advising practices consistent with the district's expected comprehensive school counseling program outcomes.
(a) A coordinated comprehensive school counseling program may be designed, delivered, or otherwise implemented by:
(A) A person who is licensed by the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission as a school counselor;
(B) A person who is licensed by the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission as a school social worker; or
(C) A team consisting of a combination of staff who include one or more professionals licensed by the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission and the members of the team as a whole have professional training or experience in the following areas:
(i) Oregon’s Framework for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs;
(ii) Counseling methodologies;
(iii) Curriculum, instruction and assessment;
(iv) Social-emotional learning;
(v) Mental and behavioral health supports;
(vi) Trauma-sensitive practices;
(vii) Culturally responsive and sustaining practices;
(viii) Career development; and  
(ix) Legal and ethical issues in education;
(b) In determining staffing for the program, the following shall be considered:
(A) Alignment with the American School Counselor Association and School Social Work Association of America recommended ratio of 1:250 students; and
(B) The number of aides or clerical staff assigned to support the implementation of the comprehensive school counseling program.

(4) The department shall conduct a review of annual comprehensive school counseling program assessments of any district or school as part of the program evaluation and improvement process.

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 326.051; 329.275; and Sec. 2, Ch. 308, OL 2019.
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 326.051 and Sec. 2, Ch. 308, OL 2019.