SESSION WATCH
Became law HOUSE · SESSION 2026 · CHAPTER 2026-107

No. CS/CS/HB 753

School Counselors
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SPONSOR
Education Administration Subcommittee; Careers & Workforce Subcommittee; Hunschofsky
FILED BY
Christine Hunschofsky — District 95, Democrat [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026

Filed under Education.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

School Counselors; Requires evaluation criteria for certified school counselors to be based on specified standards; provides that persons seeking employment as school counselors are exempt from specified educator certification requirements; & provides that school districts may require such persons to meet certain requirements as condition of employment.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Exempts school counselors from state certification requirements.

Certified school counselors are now exempt from two specific state educator certification requirements when seeking employment. This removes a mandatory barrier to hiring for this profession.

School districts retain the authority to require these certifications as a condition of employment. This allows local boards to maintain their own hiring standards despite the state-level exemption.

Evaluation criteria for certified school counselors must now be based on the Florida School Counseling Standards. This replaces the previous general educator standards for this specific role.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Mandates specific evaluation standards for certified school counselors majors. 1012.34(3)(a)(c)

AIRequires that annual evaluation criteria for certified school counselors be based on the Florida School Counseling Standards, rather than the general educator practices used for other staff.

“For certified school counselors, evaluation criteria must be based upon indicators of the Florida School Counseling Standards adopted by the State Board of Education.” bill text, line 60 →
§ 2 Exempts school counselor applicants from specific certification requirements majors. 1012.55(6)

AIRemoves the requirement for persons seeking employment as school counselors to hold the specific educator certifications listed in s. 1012.56(2)(g) and (i).

“A person who is seeking employment as a school counselor is exempt from the educator certification requirements in s. 1012.56(2)(g) and (i).” bill text, line 96 →
§ 3 Allows school districts to impose certification conditions on employment moderates. 1012.55(6)

AIPermits school districts to require a certified school counselor to satisfy the previously exempted certification requirements as a condition of employment.

“Such exemption does not preclude a school district from requiring a certified school counselor to satisfy the requirements of s. 1012.56(2)(g) and (i) as a condition of employment.” bill text, line 98 →
§ 4 Establishes evaluation criteria for non-classroom instructional personnel moderates. 1012.34(3)(a)(b)

AIRequires that evaluation criteria for instructional personnel who are not classroom teachers or certified school counselors be based on Florida Educator Accomplished Practices and may include student support expectations.

“For instructional personnel who are not classroom teachers or certified school counselors, evaluation criteria must be based upon indicators of the Florida Educator Accomplished...” bill text, line 55 →
TIMELINE
5/26/2026
Chapter No. 2026-107
5/22/2026
Approved by Governor
5/11/2026
Signed by Officers and presented to Governor
3/6/2026
Ordered enrolled
3/6/2026
In Messages
3/6/2026
CS passed; YEAS 34 NAYS 0 -SJ 672
3/6/2026
Read 3rd time -SJ 672
3/6/2026
Read 2nd time -SJ 672
3/6/2026
Substituted for CS/CS/SB 1036 -SJ 672
3/6/2026
Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
3/6/2026
Withdrawn from Rules -SJ 672
3/5/2026
Received
3/5/2026
Referred to Rules
3/5/2026
In Messages
3/5/2026
CS passed; YEAS 103, NAYS 0
3/5/2026
Read 3rd time
3/5/2026
Added to Third Reading Calendar
3/5/2026
Read 2nd time
3/2/2026
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/5/2026)
2/24/2026
Added to Second Reading Calendar
2/24/2026
Bill released to House Calendar
2/24/2026
Reported out of Education & Employment Committee
2/24/2026
Favorable by Education & Employment Committee
2/20/2026
Added to Education & Employment Committee agenda
2/2/2026
Now in Education & Employment Committee
2/2/2026
Referred to Education & Employment Committee
1/30/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 2)
1/30/2026
CS Filed
1/30/2026
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
1/29/2026
Reported out of Education Administration Subcommittee
1/29/2026
Favorable with CS by Education Administration Subcommittee
1/27/2026
Added to Education Administration Subcommittee agenda
1/22/2026
Now in Education Administration Subcommittee
1/22/2026
Referred to Education & Employment Committee
1/22/2026
Referred to Education Administration Subcommittee
1/21/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
1/21/2026
CS Filed
1/21/2026
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
1/20/2026
Reported out of Careers & Workforce Subcommittee
1/20/2026
Favorable with CS by Careers & Workforce Subcommittee
1/15/2026
PCS added to Careers & Workforce Subcommittee agenda
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
1/5/2026
Now in Careers & Workforce Subcommittee
1/5/2026
Referred to Education & Employment Committee
1/5/2026
Referred to Education Administration Subcommittee
1/5/2026
Referred to Careers & Workforce Subcommittee
12/11/2025
Filed
41 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 1012.34
+31 / −0
s. 1012.55
+51 / −0
s. 1012.55
+0 / −0
STAFF ANALYSES