Connecting the Dots

A plethora of recent developments have directly impacted California school counselors and have left my head spinning. The results from 19+ years of advocacy to increase elementary, middle and high school counselors’ visibility in the eyes of Californians cannot be overstated. The momentum is snowballing at an ideal time, conceivably setting the stage to surpass the gains made from the passage of AB1802 in 2006. This article connects the dots of several developments and challenges all of us to approach the upcoming year together in solidarity.

A fair-share amount of recent progress can be attributed to the CASC team and our strategic partners such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). We also credit countless California school counselors who are collecting data, providing comprehensive programs and, most important, telling others about the crucial work being done in their district.

Although the shear velocity of recent developments is astounding, disparity from one district to another in school counseling hiring practices exist and that divide may be getting bigger. While some districts are reporting substantial reductions in caseload, others remain unchanged. The ACLU recently reported that 400,000 students in California attend a school with a police officer and no school counselor, and nearly 600 school districts do not currently have school counselors at all. Unfortunately, a number of school districts are outsourcing school counseling jobs to save money, often compromising the quality of services.

Although we could not be more pleased with a nearly 30 percent increase in the California school counselor workforce, we remain far behind other states in student-to-school counselor ratios. California ratios have decreased from approximately 1000:1 to 622:1, falling short of the national average of 482:1 and the national recommended maximum of 250:1.


So, what happens when a school district does not include the hiring of school counselors within their Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) and Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), and uses their funds to hire personnel regardless of the lack of research and direct application to needed interventions?

Last month, Pomona Unified School District (PUSD) was found by the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) to be in noncompliance with their LCAP and LCFF goals. PUSD’s “unduplicated pupil” funds, designated specifically for English learners, low-income and/or foster youth, was inappropriately allocated. PUSD was utilizing unduplicated pupil funds for police officers and security personnel. Letters were written to LACOE and PUSD, and public forums were held where ACLU representatives and other spokespersons challenged district leaders to use the funds to hire more school counselors. The results speak for themselves: PUSD’s trustees voted to reallocate five million dollars; to hire an additional 82 school counselors; and to increase their STEAM, arts and music programs. Persistent pressure from advocacy groups was responsible for this development.

What did this ruling teach us? The principles and policy levers within the LCFF and LCAP plans monitored by county offices of education work. These actions may be a foretelling of future actions toward other districts that are not in compliance with their LCAP goals. The lack of school counselors is a fundamental civil rights issue that needs to be addressed.

County offices of education are responsible for approving district LCAPs (Cal. Ed. Code 52070(d)) and a requirement of districts is that their LCAP adhere to the expenditure requirements (Section 42238.07) related to the number and concentration of unduplicated pupils (Section 42238.02).

Another recent development is the ACLU’s publication of an interactive map that disaggregates support service personnel ratios, student discipline rates and policing. This map is shining a light on district hiring disparities. An additional map specific to California will be published in the next few months; check back on our website next month for the link.



CASC is ramping up for a 2020 Campaign in partnership with the ACLU. We are looking at the feasibility of local rallies and organizing marches and events to draw attention to the important work done by school counselors. We are planning several op-ed pieces and looking for local support in our efforts. Many of the skills school counselors have developed are directly transferable into the political arena. School counselors are highly skilled in interpersonal communication, assessment and planning. I encourage you to consider hosting an event this coming year.

CASC has created two publications for your use in telling the California school counseling story, both available via CASC website’s homepage. In September, CASC published Best Practice: Guidelines for California School Counselors and in October, we shared a two-minute video, School Counselors – How their work is making a difference in California schools. Both are intended as an advocacy tools. Don’t hesitate to contact me directly with your ideas, at Loretta.whitson@schoolcounselor-ca.org. I can safely and assuredly say, the best is yet to come!