Iowa House Bill HF413

Iowa 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/22/23
• Refer: 2/22/23

Caption

A bill for an act establishing the school counselor grant program to be administered by the department of education and making appropriations.

Impact

The bill appropriates $2.5 million for the fiscal year 2023-2024, facilitating the awarding of grants that can reach up to $125,000 over five years for each additional school counselor hired. Importantly, the funds must supplement existing public funding for similar purposes rather than replace it. This ensures that the investment in school counseling does not diminish current support systems within school districts. By bolstering the number of counselors, the bill seeks to improve student access to vital mental health resources and guidance.

Summary

House File 413 establishes a school counselor grant program aimed at increasing the availability of school counselors within Iowa's public school districts. The program is designed to offer financial support to school districts that seek to employ more counselors, particularly where the existing ratio of counselors to students exceeds one counselor for every 300 students. This initiative reflects a growing recognition of the importance of mental health and emotional support in educational settings, especially following discussions on the challenges faced by students in recent years.

Contention

While the intent is widely supported, there may be points of contention regarding the effectiveness and management of the program. Critics may argue about the adequacy of funding to meet the needs of various districts across Iowa, especially those with higher student populations. Additionally, there may be concerns about the criteria set for the grant applications, including the maximum ratio of counselors to students and the cap on the number of grants a district can apply for in a single year. Such limitations could potentially restrict more disadvantaged districts from obtaining the necessary resources to effectively support their students.