I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3567 
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to create 
a demonstration project to fund additional secondary school counselors 
in troubled title I schools to reduce the dropout rate. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 21, 2025 
Ms. SA´NCHEZ (for herself, Mr. PANETTA, Mr. EVANS of Pennsylvania, Mrs. 
DINGELL, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Ms. NORTON, 
and Mr. SMITH of Washington) introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce 
A BILL 
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
of 1965 to create a demonstration project to fund addi-
tional secondary school counselors in troubled title I 
schools to reduce the dropout rate. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Put School Counselors 
Where They’re Needed Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. DEMONSTRATION PROJECT FOR ADDITIONAL SEC-
ONDARY SCHOOL COUNSELORS. 
Part D of title I of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6421 et seq.) is amend-
ed by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘Subpart 4—Demonstration Project for Additional 
Secondary School Counselors 
‘‘SEC. 1441. FINDINGS. 
‘‘The Congress finds the following: 
‘‘(1) Nationally, only 86.5 percent of students 
graduate from high school with a regular high school 
diploma. 
‘‘(2) Every school year, around 520,000 Amer-
ican high school students drop out without earning 
a high school diploma or an alternative credential. 
‘‘(3) Only about 71 percent of American stu-
dents with limited English proficiency graduated on 
time from high school. 
‘‘(4) Only about 80 percent of Black students, 
82 percent of Hispanic students, and 74 percent of 
American Indian/Alaska Native students graduate 
on time from high school with a regular diploma, 
compared to 89 percent of White students and 93 
percent of Asian/Pacific Islander students. 
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‘‘(5) Only about 71 percent of American stu-
dents with disabilities graduated on time from high 
school. 
‘‘(6) High school is the final transition into 
adulthood and the world of work as students begin 
defining their independence and forging their own 
pathways. As our next generation of leaders, our 
youth, are deciding their futures, they are faced with 
many challenges, including peer pressure and bul-
lying, high-stakes testing, the challenges of college 
admissions, the scholarship and financial aid appli-
cation process, and entrance into an ever more com-
petitive job market. Students need guidance and 
skills to help them navigate these complex decisions, 
which have serious and life-changing consequences. 
‘‘(7) School counseling programs are essential 
for students to achieve optimal personal growth, ac-
quire positive social skills and values, set appropriate 
career goals, and realize full academic potential to 
become productive, contributing members of the 
world community. 
‘‘(8) Professional secondary school counselors 
are highly qualified educators with a mental health 
perspective who understand and respond to the chal-
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lenges presented by today’s diverse student popu-
lation. 
‘‘(9) The professional secondary school coun-
selor holds a master’s degree or higher in school 
counseling (or the substantial equivalent), and is 
certified or licensed by the State in which the coun-
selor works. 
‘‘(10) Professional secondary school counselors 
are integral to the total educational program. They 
provide proactive leadership that engages all stake-
holders in the delivery of programs and services to 
help the student achieve success in school. Profes-
sional secondary school counselors align and work 
with the school’s mission to support the academic 
achievement of all students as they prepare for the 
ever-changing world of the 21st century. 
‘‘(11) Professional secondary school counselors’ 
opportunities to assist students are often hindered 
by extraordinarily high student-to-counselor ratios. 
Currently, the average student-to-counselor ratio in 
America’s public schools is 376 to 1. The American 
School Counselor Association, the American Coun-
seling Association, and the National Association for 
College Admissions Counseling all recommend a 
ratio of one school counselor to 250 students and a 
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