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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3017 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 554
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Carol A. Doherty and Ryan M. Hamilton
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act establishing comprehensive school counseling programs.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Carol A. Doherty3rd Bristol1/16/2025James K. Hawkins2nd Bristol2/11/2025 1 of 1
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3017 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 554
By Representatives Doherty of Taunton and Hamilton of Methuen, a petition (accompanied by
bill, House, No. 554) of Carol A. Doherty and James K. Hawkins for legislation to establish
school counseling programs. Education.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act establishing comprehensive school counseling programs.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition is hereby
2amended by inserting the following:-
3 “Each public school district shall develop and implement a comprehensive school
4counseling program that adheres to the Massachusetts Model for Comprehensive School
5Counseling Programs and ensures all pre-K to grade twelve (12) students will receive school
6counseling services from licensed school counselors. In accordance with the Model, each school
7counselor is to spend at least eighty percent (80%) of that school counselor’s time providing
8direct or indirect services to students. To maintain equity in student access to a school counselor,
9each district shall provide one (1) school counselor for a maximum of two hundred fifty (250)
10students, the nationally recommended average.”