Professional School Counselors Pilot Program; establish in certain school districts with high incidences of teen pregnancy.
The bill outlines that the pilot program will last for four years, commencing in the 2025-2026 school year. Selected school districts will be required to employ at least one professional school counselor per school through the duration of the program. This initiative aims to address critical social issues within schools and enhance student support services. By providing consistent access to trained counselors, the bill intends to foster a safer and more educationally conducive environment, particularly in under-resourced districts.
House Bill 371 establishes a Professional School Counselors Pilot Program aimed at improving counseling services in Mississippi schools. The program mandates the collaboration of the State Board of Education, the State Board of Health, and the Mississippi Department of Human Services to select specific school districts for implementation, focusing on areas with high incidences of teenage pregnancy and school violence. The goal is to evaluate the effectiveness of professional school counselors in supporting students' academic and personal development, especially in crisis situations.
One notable aspect of HB371 is its prohibition against counseling that suggests abortion as a form of pregnancy prevention. This stipulation has drawn differing opinions, with some legislators arguing that it limits the scope of counseling services that should be available to students. Furthermore, the requirements for evaluating the program's effectiveness and the subsequent reporting to legislative committees before 2030 aim to ensure accountability and transparency regarding the impacts of these counseling services on teen pregnancy rates and school violence incidents.