HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1124

BYRepresentatives 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

Enacting the elementary school counseling program.

House Committe on Education

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (16)

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

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (1)

      Signed by Representative Fuhrman.

House Staff:Susan Patrick (786-7111)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION FEBRUARY 27, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Counseling services for elementary students is a service which is provided at the discretion of a school district. Approximately 200 elementary school counselors are employed in the state of Washington.  In 1987, an elementary school counseling bill was passed by the legislature as part of a bill providing a series of programs for at risk children.  The Governor vetoed this section of the bill because no money was provided in the appropriations bill for its implementation.

SUMMARY:

The Superintendent of Public Instruction may grant funds to school districts for the implementation of an elementary school counseling program.  The program shall be based on one half-time counselor per participating elementary school building.  A district may enter into a cooperative arrangement between school, school districts, with educational service districts or qualified individuals within the local community to provide these services. Service providers shall spend their total time within the school building for which services are provided to assure knowledge of the unique nature of an individual school and its families.  A counselor is defined as a school counselor, school psychologist, or social worker holding educational staff associate certification or meeting the licensing requirements under chapter 18.83 RCW.

Interested districts must submit an application.  An advisory committee composed of school directors, administrators, principals, teachers, parents, elementary school counselors, mental health professionals, psychologists and social workers shall advise the Superintendent of Public Instruction on the adoption of criteria for awarding the grants.

The application shall include:  1)  A letter of commitment from the school district to adopt a comprehensive elementary school counseling program; 2)  A method of evaluating the program; 3) Policies on the confidentiality standards applicable to the program; 4) Policies on the notification and provision of services for parents and families; and 5)  The scope of services to be provided.  The services are to be available to a broad range of students.

An appropriation of $23,380,000 is made for the biennium ending June 30, 1991.  The sum of $49,500 may be used to fund a staff coordinator of counseling within the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.  Money from this grant cannot be used to supplant services already provided by school districts.

Appropriation:    $23,380,000 to the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Representative Walker; Gary Ness, Washington School Counselors and HARK Coalition; Donna Shy, PTA; John Kvamme, Connie Lassiter, and Donald Glabe, Tacoma School District.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Elementary counseling services can make a difference in the lives of children, their families and the teachers and principals in our schools.  A counselor can deal with the family problems and crises which may affect how a child is able to perform at school.  Intervention at an early age can avoid the terrible costs in human and in financial terms of child abuse, substance abuse, dropping out and the physical and emotional problems a student may face.  This is a step toward prevention.  The ounce of prevention rather than a pound of cure.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.