HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1655

BYRepresentatives Schoon, Valle, G. Fisher, Peery, Walker, Phillips, Rayburn, Cole, P. King, K. Wilson, Baugher, Ferguson, Smith, Pruitt, Winsley, Wineberry and Todd

Establishing the elementary school counselor program.

House Committe on Education

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendment.  (17)

      Signed by Representatives Peery, Chair; G. Fisher, Vice Chair; Betrozoff, Ranking Republican Member; Brumsickle, Cole, Dorn, Fuhrman, Holland, Horn, Jones, Phillips, Pruitt, Rasmussen, Rayburn, Schoon, Valle and Walker.

House Staff:Susan Patrick (786-7111)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION FEBRUARY 27, 1989

BACKGROUND:

At many legislative hearings, in the press and on television there have been repeated discussions of the concern of citizens about child abuse, drug and alcohol abuse and the large number of students dropping out of our schools.

SUMMARY:

BILL AS AMENDED:  The Superintendent of Public Instruction may grant funds to school districts for the planning, development and implementation of an elementary school counseling program based on one counselor for every three hundred full-time equivalent elementary school students.  For districts having an elementary school population of less than three hundred full-time equivalent elementary school students, one half-time counselor shall be provided for the district.  Districts may enter into a cooperative arrangement with other school districts within the area, contract for services from the educational service district or contract with qualified individuals within the community.  A school district may elect to provide these services by employing a social worker with educational staff associate certification.

Interested districts must file an application including: (a) a letter of commitment to adopt a comprehensive elementary school counseling plan and to define the relationship of this program to local community resources, (b) the method of evaluating the effectiveness of the program, (c) the confidentiality standards applicable to the program, (d) the policies on notification and provision of services for parents and family, (e) the referral procedures for dealing with community and state agencies and (f) the scope of the services to be provided.

The Superintendent of Public Instruction may adopt rules to implement the elementary school counselor program.

The sum of $47,750,000 is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1991, from the general fund to the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

AMENDED BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  Adds language allowing a district to provide counseling by employing a social worker with educational staff associate certification.

Appropriation:    $47,750,000 to the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Fiscal Note:      Requested February 6, 1989.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Representative Schoon; Kris Van Gorkom, Washington Association of School Administrators; Gary Ness, HARK Coalition; Bob Fisher, Washington Education Association.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Schools need the assistance of all types of intervention specialists.  Children and families have changed.  We can no longer pretend that this has not happened.  Elementary counselors or qualified individuals within the community can assist schools in meeting the needs of children.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.