Section 49600.

(a) The governing board of any school district may provide a comprehensive educational counseling program for all pupils enrolled in the schools of the district.

For purposes of this section, "educational counseling" means specialized services provided by a school counselor possessing a valid credential with a specialization in pupil personnel services who is assigned specific times to directly counsel pupils.

(b) Educational counseling shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(1) Academic counseling, in which pupils receive counseling in the following areas:

(A) Establishment and implementation with parental involvement of the pupil's immediate and long-range educational plans.

(B) Optimizing progress towards achievement of proficiency standards.

(C) Completion of the required curriculum in accordance with the pupil's needs, abilities, interests, and aptitudes.

(D) Academic planning for access and success in higher education programs including advisement on courses needed for admission to public colleges and universities, standarized admissions tests, and financial aid.

(2) Career and vocational counseling, in which pupils are assisted in doing all of the following:

(A) Planning for the future.

(B) Becoming aware of their career potential.

(C) Developing realistic perceptions of work.

(D) Relating to the work world.

(3) Personal and social counseling, in which pupils receive counseling pertaining to interpersonal relationships for the purpose of promoting the development of their academic abilities, careers and vocations, personalities, and social skills.

(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting persons participating in an organized advisory program approved by the governing board of a school district, and supervised by a school district counselor, from advising pupils pursuant to the organized advisory program.

(d) Notwithstanding any provisions of this section to the contrary, any person who is performing these counseling services pursuant to law authorizing the performance thereof in effect before January 1, 1987, shall be authorized to continue to perform those services on and after that date without compliance with the additional requirements imposed by this section.

(Added by Stats. 1987, Ch. 1452, Sec. 426.)