MS HB1426

Establishes a four-year Professional School Counselors Pilot Program beginning in the 2023-2024 school year in three school districts with high rates of teen pregnancy or school violence, continuing through the 2026-2027 school year.

Requires the State Department of Education, State Department of Health, and Mississippi Department of Human Services to jointly select participating districts based on data analysis, considering dropout rates, alternative school placements, geographic location, demographics, and accreditation levels.

Mandates each participating school district place at least one professional school counselor in each school to provide comprehensive counseling services including academic, personal/social, crisis intervention, conflict resolution, and career counseling.

Prohibits school counselors in the pilot program from counseling students that abortion can be used to prevent the birth of a baby.

Requires the State Department of Education to submit a report to legislative committees by January 1, 2028 comparing teen pregnancy and school violence rates before and during the pilot program, with a recommendation on permanent statewide implementation.