Q1: Our district needs some clarification on the AB 1802 bill, which we are
trying to implement. Can you answer the following:

1. At the middle school level are ALL 7th and 8th grader to have an individual meeting, or just 7th grade or just the At-risk of 7th or both grade levels.

2. At the High School level are 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th graders suppose to all have an individual session (with the offer that the parent attend)?

Our superintendent is under the impression that ALL 7th through 12th graders need an individual meeting EVERY year (which is 2500 students in our District, yet at $60, there would not be enough to cover approximately 2500 hours of meetings) Our Superintendent feels the need to be conservative and would only hire 2 positions (temporary) for 2500 students. If this money is just to hire counselors to do meetings and only meeting, we will proceed to write the job description very differently than if there was time for them to blend regular counseling services.

The counselors are under the impression that there is a larger intent, to
provide general counseling services to all 7th through 12th with only the
AT-Risk 7th, 10th, and 12th graders needing individual counseling services.


A:We would suggest that you go on the CASC website and look at the presentation documents which should answer ALL your questions. There is only a need for the general population student to receive one conference appointment in the middle school. The trust behind the bill is for the at-risk student. All of that is outlined in the documents on the website

Q2: I am the Student Well-Being Facilitator for Calexico Unified School District. I was one of four people who were fortunate enough to attend the CASC Conference on October 9, 2006. It was excellent. I am the lead for our Secondary Guidance Committee. I am working on a job description for our district to hire additional staff that holds a valid pupil personnel services credential. Do you have a sample for a job description for AB1802 purposes?

A: Not yet, but when you complete your districts job description, please forward it to me so that I might include it as a sample on our website. Also, as documents come in we will post them for everyone to access.

Q4: Is there anyone appointed to help schools with the newly required tasks of the school counselors?  I'm looking for help with the task of the 7th grade counselor.  Specifically, how does one meet with Special Ed (SDC) students.  What are the objectives?

A: Currently the only official support for implementation of the AB 1802, school counseling program is George Montgomery from the California Department of Education.   He can be reached by email at Gmontogomery@cde.ca.gov CASC is fielding many phone calls and emails regarding issues as they arise. We are also referring individuals back to the website to review the handouts from the conference on October 9, 2006 and we are currently constructing a web page where CASC members and other counselors can share ideas. We will also devote a big portion of our spring conferences held in both Southern and Northern California to AB 1802 implementation strategies.

As far a Special Education Students – yes, those students that are determined to fit into the “at-risk” categories as describe in AB1802 must have a conference. Now that conference can be imbedded in the IEP as long as a school counselor is present, timelines are met, the mandatory topics are covered and the appropriate documents are placed in the CUM.

Q5: Can school counselors with Valid Intern Credentials eligible for Hire under 1802?

A: The information regarding the use of school counselors with intern credentials was revised later in the day at the AB 1802 Implemention Conference.

School counselors with valid INTERN CREDENTIALS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR HIRE under AB 1802.  This does not apply to emergency credential holders or fieldwork students.

This interpretation was given to the Los Angeles County Office of Education after a referral by California Department of Education staff to the California Teacher Credentialing Commission.

Resource: Access Network October 10, 2006

Q6:Does the association have position papers on AB1802?

A: We do not currently have a position paper regarding AB1802. I do not expect that we will have a position statement until the California Department of Education publishes a definitive interpretation of the bill language.

Q7:Does the association have exemplar District Counseling and Guidance Master Plans?

A: We work in partnership with Los Angeles County Office of Education.

Q8:Would you refer us districts in California with exemplary plans?

A: Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) does a Support Personnel Accountability Report Card (SPARC). You can go to their website and download exemplary school counseling practices there. Here is the link. http://www.lacoe.edu/orgs/1077/index.cfm  Bob Tyra is the contact person at LACOE. Also, a newly formed website hosted by the only west cost school counseling research institute CS3 – University of San Diego. It is a clearinghouse for AB1802 research and best practices. www.AB1802Clearinghouse.com

Q9: Do ALL students 7ththrough 12th grade (including 8th, 9th and 11th) need an individual counseling session with a parent? Is it only 7th, 10th and 12th graders? Is it only at-risk 7th, 10th, and 12th graders?

A: There should be an official notice about this from CDE in the next few weeks. What I have heard so far is that we will not be required to do individual appointments every year but that we will have to see every student, every year. The type of contact will be left up to the individual school district.

Q10: Can some of the AB1802 funding be used for clerical support to schedule meetings?
A:No, you can not use the money for clerical support. You can use the money for professional development for credentialed school counselors.

Q11: Do you know if AB 1802 is funded for school year 2007/2008 or how long it will be funded?
A: With confidence I can tell you these funds will be here in 2007/08. It would take a legislative process to eliminate these funds, so I expect them to be around for some time in future.