Bill Summaries: S424 FULLY FUND SCHOOL COUNSELORS & PSYCHOLOGISTS.

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  • Summary date: Mar 28 2019 - View Summary

    Enacts GS 115C-316.2, making the following appropriations from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction to be allocated to local school administrative units to increase positions for school counselor, and psychologists to meet the following statewide ratios of personnel to students.

    • For the 2019-20 fiscal year, appropriates $87.3 million for statewide ratios of one counselor to 322 students and one psychologist for 1,234 students.
    • For the 2020-21 fiscal year, appropriates $174.7 million for statewide ratios of one counselor to 282 students and one psychologist to 895 students.
    • For the 2021-22 fiscal year and each subsequent fiscal year, appropriates $262 million for statewide ratios of 1 counselor to 250 students and one psychologist to 700 students.

    Directs the Director of the Budget to include the above appropriated amounts for each fiscal year in the instructional support allotment for DPI when developing the base budget. Adds that school counselors hired from funds provided pursuant to new GS 115C-316.2(a) have a first responsibility to provide preventative and responsive services as set out in GS 115C-316.1(3), including mental health counseling.

    Makes conforming change to GS 115C-316.1(3), adding providing preventative services to the duties of school counselors.

    Effective July 1, 2019.