Assembly committee advances bill to set school counselor certification standards, add DOE liaison

The Assembly Education Committee on Tuesday voted to release Assembly Bill A3424, which would set program requirements for school counselor certification, outline school counselors’ roles and duties, require ongoing professional development and create a school counselor liaison position in the New Jersey Department of Education.

Supporters told the committee the bill would help standardize training and protect students by clarifying counselors’ role in academic advising, college and career planning, and social-emotional support. "By defining the role of a school counselor, we will be better able to serve students' needs across the academic, college and career and social-emotional spectrums," said Jessica Smedley, director of counseling in West Windsor–Plainsboro and legislative co-chair of the New Jersey School Counselors Association.

The bill text directs counselor preparation programs to incorporate recognized best practices, including the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) national model, and requires professional development to cover topics such as suicide prevention, the Anti‑Bullying Bill of Rights, and FAFSA completion. Melinda Hall and Cindy Povall, both longtime school counselors and officers of the New Jersey School Counselors Association, testified the profession serves all students daily, provides immediate assessments and crisis intervention, and delivers tiered supports at elementary through high school levels.

Committee members discussed scope and potential conflicts. Assemblywoman Fantasia said she had concerns about a clause referencing the ASCA model; she abstained from the committee vote citing potential conflict with federal guidance and asked for alignment review. Assemblyman Meyer also abstained, citing similar concerns.

The committee released the bill by recorded vote; members voting "yes" included Assemblymen Simonson, Abdelaziz and Schnall and Assemblywomen Begoli and Swayne, Assemblyman Stanley and Chairwoman Verlina Reynolds Jackson. The bill was released for further legislative action.

If enacted, the bill would add an explicit statewide role for school counseling within statute and create a DOE position intended to serve as a liaison for practicing counselors and district administrators. Supporters said the change would help keep caseloads and professional development aligned to student needs; they did not provide required caseload limits or a timeline for neutral implementation in the hearing.