MS HB187

Beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, each school district must receive adequate funding to employ one elementary professional school counselor, with additional counselor positions funded annually until every elementary school has at least one state-funded counselor.

If insufficient funds are appropriated, the State Department of Education shall allocate available funds to the three lowest-accredited school districts with the greatest documented need based on crime/violence rates, free lunch participation, and dropout rates.

Professional school counselors must hold a Master's Degree in Guidance and Counseling, spend at least 80% of time in direct student counseling, and provide comprehensive services including academic counseling, crisis intervention, career planning, and referrals to community agencies.

The State Department of Education shall employ a supervisor of professional school counselors to oversee both new elementary programs and existing secondary programs.

Annual appropriations for elementary counselors cannot be reduced until a 1:500 counselor-to-student ratio is achieved in every elementary school, and school districts may employ additional counselors with local funds.