MI HB4548

Appropriates up to $5,000,000 from the general fund for fiscal year 2021-2022 to establish a school counselor corps grant program supporting districts in providing school counseling services to students.

Requires applicant districts to submit detailed applications including current counselor employment levels, pupil-to-counselor ratios, adoption of national counselor standards, partnerships with higher education institutions, and plans for using grant funds.

Prioritizes grant awards to districts with above-average dropout and remediation rates, high percentages of low-income or at-risk students, high percentages of first-generation college students, and geographic areas underserved by school counselors.

Mandates that grant-funded school counselors spend at least 80% of their time directly providing counseling services and requires districts to collect data on program impact regarding student achievement, attendance, and behavior.

Requires districts to submit annual reports to the department documenting counselors hired, professional development offered, and comparisons of dropout rates, college enrollment, attendance, grades, and discipline referrals before and during grant funding periods; department contracts with Michigan College Access Network to administer the program.