HB 1377-S - DIGEST
(SUBSTITUTED FOR - SEE 2ND SUB)

Addresses the role of a school counselor, a school social worker, and a school psychologist in promoting student achievement and creating a safe learning environment.

Requires first-class school districts to provide at least six hours of professional collaboration per year for school counselors, social workers, and psychologists that focuses on recognizing signs of emotional or behavioral distress in students.

Creates the professional collaboration lighthouse grant program to assist school districts with early adoption and implementation of mental health professional collaboration time.

Requires the superintendent of public instruction to designate two school districts as lighthouse school districts to serve as resources and examples of best practices in designing and operating a professional collaboration program for school counselors, social workers, and psychologists, and local licensed mental health service providers.

Requires the professional educator standards board to convene a task force on school counselors, psychologists, and social workers to review certain issues.