Requests the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to prioritize mental health instruction and training in suicide prevention in its rulemaking process
Impact
The resolution emphasizes the importance of maintaining teacher training related to suicide prevention and mental health, which includes awareness of risk factors, crisis response protocols, and availability of mental health resources. If House Bill No. 320 passes, it would alter existing laws that mandated this training under the Jason Flatt Act, undermining previous legislative efforts to bolster mental health support in schools. However, HCR46 seeks to ensure that the potential repeal does not weaken the commitment to mental health education.
Summary
House Concurrent Resolution No. 46 (HCR46) urges the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) to prioritize policies focusing on suicide prevention and mental health education within its rulemaking process. This request coincides with House Bill No. 320, which proposes the repeal of specific student instruction and teacher training requirements while granting BESE the authority to establish these stipulations by rule. The intent is to ensure that mental health education remains a critical component of school curricula, especially concerning suicide awareness and intervention strategies.
Sentiment
There appears to be a supportive sentiment towards HCR46 among legislators who recognize the critical need for mental health awareness and training in schools. Many lawmakers believe that despite the broad goals of flexibility aimed by HB 320, key provisions essential for addressing student mental health and well-being should not be overlooked or eliminated. The resolution reflects a collective acknowledgment of the ongoing mental health crisis and the necessity of equipping educators with proper training.
Contention
One point of contention lies in the balance between repealing outdated requirements and upholding necessary protocols for mental health education. Proponents of HCR46 argue that certain instructional mandates should remain to prevent jeopardizing students' safety and well-being, while those in favor of HB 320 believe that shifting responsibilities to BESE empowers local governance and adaptability. This tension highlights the broader challenge in educational policy regarding mental health and the appropriate legislative framework to address it.
Requests the state Department of Education, in consultation with the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, to study pathways to the teaching profession
Requests the Louisiana Department of Education and the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to provide specific information in a report to the Senate committees on finance and education relative to cameras in certain classrooms.
Requests that the state Department of Education revise the proposed early learning and development standards and submit its version to the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education for consideration
Requests that the state Dept. of Education revise the proposed early learning and development standards and submit its version to the State Bd. of Elementary and Secondary Education for consideration
Requests the Louisiana Department of Education and the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to submit an annual report to the Senate committees on Education and Finance on how differentiated teacher pay, contained in the Minimum Foundation Program formula, is applied and distributed in a fair and equitable fashion.
Requests the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, in collaboration with the state Department of Education, to develop a policy relative to the issuance of posthumous high school diplomas to deceased high school students
Requires the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to grant five-year teaching certificates to applicants who hold out-of-state teaching certificates and who meet other criteria (EN NO IMPACT See Note)
Increases the amount of the individual income tax deductions for elementary and secondary school tuition, educational expenses for home-schooled children, and educational expenses for a quality public education (EN -$2,200,000 GF RV See Note)