SB199 Summary

• Repeals the Public School Student Services Act (Arkansas Code Title 6, Chapter 18, Subchapter 10) and replaces it with the School Counseling Improvement Act of 2019

• Requires each public school district to develop and implement a comprehensive school counseling program with written plans utilizing state and nationally recognized counselor frameworks, reviewed annually and aligned kindergarten through grade 12

• Mandates school counselors spend at least 90% of working time during student contact days providing direct and indirect services to students, with no more than 10% spent on administrative activities

• Establishes comprehensive service components including academic advisement, career planning, social and emotional skills development, bullying prevention, suicide awareness and prevention, and participation in decision-making teams

• Requires the Department of Education to monitor district compliance beginning in the 2020-2021 school year, employ at least one certified school counselor, and provide multilevel support to districts; non-compliance is a violation of accreditation standards