For the first time in more than 20 years, the Alabama Board of Education is rewriting the state’s plan for school counseling, which has greatly evolved since the current standards were last approved. Since then, there have been two attempts to modernize the plan, but neither made it to the board for a vote.

“We don’t even really have a working plan anymore,” said State Superintendent Eric Mackey. “It’s just that old.”

A task force was formed to survey more than 100 school counselors, administrators and education experts this spring. The group met monthly, beginning in April, to review the structure, goals and vision for counseling across grade levels.

“The profession changed the name from guidance counselor many years ago. When we say school counselor, we mean the actual educator that’s

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