Introduced Version
HOUSE BILL No. 1295
_____
DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL
Citations Affected: IC 20-20; IC 20-28-5-16.
Synopsis: School counselors. Establishes specific target
counselor/student ratios to be used for the hiring of school counselors,
school social workers, and school psychologists. Requires the
department of education, in cooperation with other appropriate
associations, to develop a uniform job description for school
counselors. Requires individuals seeking initial licensure for school
counseling to provide evidence of performance in certain areas. Makes
a technical correction.
Effective: July 1, 2010.
Porter
January 12, 2010, read first time and referred to Committee on Education.
Introduced
Second Regular Session 116th General Assembly (2010)
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HOUSE BILL No. 1295
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
education.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
SOURCE: IC 20-20-17-5; (10)IN1295.1.1. -->
SECTION 1. IC 20-20-17-5, AS ADDED BY P.L.1-2005,
SECTION 4, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
JULY 1, 2010]: Sec. 5. Subject to section 6 of this chapter, for a school
corporation to be eligible to receive a grant under this chapter, the
following must occur:
(1) The superintendent of the school corporation must apply to the
department for a grant on forms provided by the department.
(2) The application for a grant must include the following
information:
(A) A detailed description of a proposal for initiating or
expanding a school intervention or and career counseling
program.
(B) Evidence supporting the school corporation's need to
implement the school intervention or and career counseling
program.
(C) The number of elementary school counselors employed by
the school corporation.
(D) The elementary school counselor/student ratio for the
school corporation.
(E) Any other pertinent information required by the
department, including evidence guaranteeing that if the school
corporation receives a grant under this chapter, the school
corporation has developed a plan to evaluate the impact and
results of the school corporation's program.
SOURCE: IC 20-20-17-6; (10)IN1295.1.2. -->
SECTION 2. IC 20-20-17-6, AS ADDED BY P.L.1-2005,
SECTION 4, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
JULY 1, 2010]: Sec. 6. The department may award grants to school
corporations:
(1) upon review of the applications received under section 5 of
this chapter;
(2) upon receipt of the recommendations from the advisory
committee under section 10 of this chapter;
(3) subject to available money; and
(4) in accordance with the following priorities:
(A) To the extent possible, to achieve geographic balance
throughout Indiana and to include urban, suburban, and rural
school corporations.
(B) To address a documented need for new or expanded school
intervention or and career counseling programs, including
considering the percentage of students within the school
corporation who are designated as at risk students.
(C) To promote innovative methods for initiating or expanding
school intervention or and career counseling programs.
(D) To reward school corporations that propose school
intervention or and career counseling programs that
demonstrate the greatest potential for replication and
implementation in Indiana.
(E) To lower school counselor/student ratios where the ratios
are excessively high.
SOURCE: IC 20-20-18-1; (10)IN1295.1.3. -->
SECTION 3. IC 20-20-18-1, AS ADDED BY P.L.1-2005,
SECTION 4, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
JULY 1, 2010]: Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "fund" refers to the
elementary school counselors, school social workers, and school
psychologists fund established by section 4 of this chapter.
SOURCE: IC 20-20-18-3; (10)IN1295.1.4. -->
SECTION 4. IC 20-20-18-3, AS ADDED BY P.L.1-2005,
SECTION 4, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
JULY 1, 2010]: Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "program" refers to an
elementary school counseling program, a school social work program,
or a school psychologist program carried out under this chapter:
(1) for kindergarten through grade 6; and
(2) by:
(A) a licensed school counselor;
(B) a licensed school social worker who has obtained at least
a master's degree; or
(C) a licensed school psychologist.
SOURCE: IC 20-20-18-4; (10)IN1295.1.5. -->
SECTION 5. IC 20-20-18-4, AS ADDED BY P.L.1-2005,
SECTION 4, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
JULY 1, 2010]: Sec. 4. (a) The elementary school counselors, school
social workers, and school psychologists fund is established. The
money in the fund shall be used to assist school corporations in placing
school counselors, school social workers, and school psychologists in
elementary schools through grants awarded as determined by the
department under this chapter.
(b) If a school corporation is awarded a grant under this chapter, the
school corporation must:
(1) agree to evaluate the impact and results of the school
corporation's program; and
(2) submit the school corporation's findings to the department.
(c) The department shall administer the fund.
(d) The fund consists of:
(1) gifts to the fund;
(2) appropriations from the general assembly; and
(3) grants, including grants from private entities.
SOURCE: IC 20-20-18-5; (10)IN1295.1.6. -->
SECTION 6. IC 20-20-18-5, AS ADDED BY P.L.1-2005,
SECTION 4, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
JULY 1, 2010]: Sec. 5. Subject to section 6 of this chapter, for a school
corporation to be eligible to receive a grant under this chapter, the
following must occur:
(1) The superintendent of the school corporation must apply to the
department for a grant on a form provided by the department.
(2) The application for a grant must include the following
information:
(A) A detailed description of a proposal for placing school
counselors, school social workers, or school psychologists in
elementary schools to provide services to students and their
families.
(B) Evidence supporting the school corporation's need to
implement the program.
(C) The number of elementary school counselors, school
social workers, and school psychologists employed by the
school corporation.
(D) The elementary school:
(i) school counselor/student ratio;
(ii) school social worker/student ratio; and
(iii) school psychologist/student ratio;
for the school corporation.
(E) Any other pertinent information required by the
department, including evidence guaranteeing that if the school
corporation receives a grant under this chapter, the school
corporation will have developed a plan to evaluate the impact
and results of the school corporation's program.
SOURCE: IC 20-20-18-6; (10)IN1295.1.7. -->
SECTION 7. IC 20-20-18-6, AS ADDED BY P.L.1-2005,
SECTION 4, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
JULY 1, 2010]: Sec. 6. Upon review of the applications received under
section 5 of this chapter, the department may award grants to school
corporations subject to available money and in accordance with the
following priorities:
(1) To the extent possible, to achieve geographic balance
throughout Indiana and to include urban, suburban, and rural
school corporations.
(2) To address a documented need for new or expanded programs,
including consideration of the percentage of students within the
school corporation who are designated as at risk students.
(3) To lower:
(A) student/school counselor ratios to at least one (1) school
counselor to two hundred fifty (250) students;
(B) student/social student/school social worker ratios to at
least one (1) school social worker to four hundred (400)
students; and
(C) student/school psychologist ratios to at least one (1)
school psychologist to one thousand (1,000) students.
where the ratios are excessively high.
SOURCE: IC 20-28-5-16; (10)IN1295.1.8. -->
SECTION 8. IC 20-28-5-16 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
1, 2010]: Sec. 16. After June 30, 2012, the department may not issue
an initial school services license for school counseling to an
individual unless the individual demonstrates mastery in the
following areas:
(1) Developmental guidance instruction.
(2) Educational development.
(3) Career development student assistance services.
(4) Counseling strategies.
(5) Prevention programming.
(6) Crisis intervention leadership.
(7) Advocacy for students.
(8) Professional growth.
SOURCE: ; (10)IN1295.1.9. -->
SECTION 9. [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2010]
(a) Not later than July
1, 2011, the department of education, in cooperation with other
appropriate associations, shall develop a uniform job description
for school counselors.
(b) This SECTION expires December 31, 2011.