H-54                 _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1124

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Representatives Walker, Peery, Betrozoff, Valle, Holland, Brumsickle, Rasmussen, Dorn, Schoon, Cole, Horn, Pruitt, K. Wilson, Leonard, Rayburn, Phillips, G. Fisher, P. King, Jones, Doty, Patrick, Rector, Winsley, Wood, Brekke, Miller, Todd, H. Myers, Ferguson, Spanel and May

Read first time 1/16/89 and referred to Committees on Education/Appropriations (3/1/89).

AN ACT Relating to the provision of a half-time elementary school counseling program in elementary school buildings which currently do not provide this service; adding new sections to chapter 28A.03 RCW; and making an appropriation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The citizens of the state of Washington recognize the many problems to which children are exposed in our modern society including drug and alcohol abuse, child abuse, poverty, and transiency as examples.  The complexities of modern life can have a serious impact on the ability of children to learn.  Therefore, the elementary school counseling program is established.  It is essential that school districts provide early intervention and prevention services to students, their families, and classroom teachers to prevent school failure, absenteeism, drug and alcohol abuse, dropping out, and the subsequent problems of delinquency and unemployment.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     (1) The superintendent of public instruction may grant funds to school districts for the implementation of an elementary school counseling program based on one half-time counselor per elementary school building.  A district may enter into a cooperative arrangement with other schools within the district or adjacent districts or contract for services with the educational service district or with qualified individuals within the local community.  When districts contract for services or enter into cooperative arrangements to provide services, the service provider shall spend the total time contracted for within the school building for which services are being provided to assure that the service provider is knowledgeable of the unique nature of the individual school and the families and children it serves.  For purposes of sections 1 through 4 of this act, "counselor" means a school counselor, school psychologist, or social worker holding education staff associate certification, or an individual meeting the requirements of chapter 18.83 RCW.

          (2) Interested school districts shall file an application for funds that includes the following:

          (a) A letter of commitment from the school district to adopt a comprehensive elementary school counseling program;

          (b) Methods for evaluating the effectiveness of the program;

          (c) Policies on the confidentiality standards applicable to the program;

          (d) Policies on the notification and provision of services for parents and family;

          (e) Referral procedures for dealing with community and state agencies; and

          (f) The scope of the services to be provided.  Services shall be available to a broad range of students.

          (3) Schools or school districts entering into a cooperative program may file a joint application.

          (4) No services funded by money received through this program may be used to supplant services already provided by the school district.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     The superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules to implement the elementary school counseling program.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     The superintendent of public instruction shall appoint an advisory committee composed of representatives of at least the following groups:  School directors, administrators, principals, teachers, elementary school counselors, parents, community mental health professionals, psychologists, and social workers, to advise the superintendent on the adoption of criteria for the award of grant moneys.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.     Sections 1 through 4 of this act are each added to chapter 28A.03 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6.     The sum of twenty-three million three hundred thirty-eight thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1991, from the general fund to the superintendent of public instruction for the purposes of this act.  No more than forty-nine thousand five hundred dollars may be used to fund a staff coordinator of counseling services within the office of the superintendent of public instruction.