Workforce Data & Legalities
California Safety Act
On July 15, 2024 Governor Newsom signed the SAFETY Act (AB 1955) into law, directing the California Department of Education to develop and publish resources to support the families of LGBTQ+ students, and strengthening California’s existing prohibitions against both the disclosure of information about student gender and sexual orientation, as well as retaliation against teachers for complying with California law to support and affirm LGBTQ+ students. The SAFETY Act is a critical tool for California students and educators to ensure that all students have access to a safe and supportive school environments and for parents and families of LGBTQ+ students, providing essential resources to support family acceptance.
Click on the photo at left for a copy of the SAFETY Act factsheet.
Employment Numbers
The most current information from the California Department of Education shows that in the 2018-19 school year, California employed 10,416 individuals with a Pupil Personnel Service Credential, Specialization School Counseling. Other Pupil Personnel Service Credentialed staff by type include 6,329 School Psychologists, 865 School Social Workers,and 7,501 "Others".
This same data shows enrollment in California schools for the 2018-19 year was 6,186,278; well exceeding the 250:1 student-to-counselor ratio recommended by the American School Counselor Association. An interactive map and report completed by the ACLU disaggregates counseling ratio data by type, district/school and legislative districts, showing how the lack of school mental health staff is harming students.
The California Association of School Counselors has also compiled a video entitled School Counselors: How their work is making a difference in California. showing how credentialed school counselors can make a difference in this disparity.
Joint Position Statement: The belief that more PPS credentialed individuals are needed in schools is embeded in a joint position statement approved by the California Association of School Counselors, California Association of School Psychologists and the California Association of School Social Workers entitled School-Based Mental Health: School and Community Partnerships.
Authorization differentiation between credentialed and licensed mental health professionals: When utilizing community-based service providers, interns and volunteers who are providing counseling related services are required to be supervised by individuals holding a pupil personnel services authorization. Referenced Statue: 5 CCR § 80049.1 A narrative explanation of this law can be accessed here.