Bill > S0265

This bill, effective July 1, 2026, aims to ensure school counselors focus more on direct student support by requiring them to spend at least 80 percent of their time on "direct services" (face-to-face or virtual interactions with students for academic, career, and social-emotional development) and "indirect services" (actions taken on behalf of students based on counselor-student interactions), as defined by the Vermont Comprehensive School Counselor Framework. This means school counselors, who are licensed or hold a master's degree in guidance and counseling, will be limited to spending no more than 20 percent of their time on "school support services," which are defined as tasks outside the scope of direct or indirect student services, such as administrative duties or substitute teaching, which the bill notes can detract from their primary role.

Education

https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/S.265