(1) For the purposes of this section and RCW 28A.150.410 and 28A.400.200, “basic education certificated instructional staff” means all full-time equivalent classroom teachers, teacher-librarians, guidance counselors, certificated student health services staff, and other certificated instructional staff in the following programs as defined for statewide school district accounting purposes: Basic education, secondary vocational education, general instructional support, and general supportive services.

(2) Each school district shall maintain a ratio of at least forty-six basic education certificated instructional staff to one thousand annual average full-time equivalent students. This requirement does not apply to that portion of a district’s annual average full-time equivalent enrollment that is enrolled in alternative learning experience courses as defined in RCW 28A.232.010.

The school counselor works with developing and leading a comprehensive guidance and counseling program to focus on the academic, career, personal, and social needs of all students. School psychologists carry out special education evaluation duties, among other things. School social workers promote and support students’ health, academic, and social success with counseling and support, and by providing and coordinating specialized services and resources. All of these professionals are also involved in multitiered systems of support for academic and behavioral skills. These professionals focus on student mental health, work with at-risk and marginalized students, perform risk assessments, and collaborate with mental health professionals to promote student achievement and create a safe learning environment. In order that school counselors, social workers, and psychologists have the time available to prioritize these functions, in addition to other activities requiring direct student contact, responsibilities such as data input and data tracking should be handled by nonlicensed, noncertified staff, where possible.

(1) In addition to the staffing units in RCW 28A.150.260, the superintendent of public instruction must provide school districts with allocations for the following staff units if and to the extent that funding is specifically appropriated and designated for that category of staffing unit in the omnibus operating appropriations act.

• (a) Additional staffing units for each level of prototypical school in RCW 28A.150.260: Elementary School Middle School High School Principals, assistant principals, and other certificated building-level administrators. . . . 0.0470 0.0470 0.0200 Teacher librarians, a function that includes information literacy, technology, and media to support school library media programs. . . . 0.3370 0.4810 0.4770 Health and social services:
  School nurses. . . . 0.5090 0.8280 0.7280 Social workers. . . . 0.2690 0.0820 0.1120 Psychologists. . . . 0.0870 0.0220 0.0420 Guidance counselors, a function that includes parent outreach and graduation advising. . . . 0.0070 0.7840 0.9610 Teaching assistance, including any aspect of educational instructional services provided by classified employees. . . . 1.0640 0.3000 0.3480 Office support and other noninstructional aides. . . . 0.9880 1.1750 0.2310 Custodians. . . . 0.0430 0.0580 0.0350 Classified staff providing student and staff safety. . . . 0.0000 0.6080 1.1590 Parent involvement coordinators. . . . 0.9175 1.0000 1.0000

A school counselor is a professional educator who holds a valid school counselor certification as defined by the professional educator Standard board. The purpose and role of the school counselor is to plan, organize, and deliver a comprehensive school guidance and counseling program that personalizes education and supports, promotes, and enhances the academic, personal, social, and career development of all students, based on the national Standard for school counseling programs of the American school counselor association.