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Senate committee advances School Counseling Improvement Act, sparking funding questions
Summary
Senate Bill 199 would revamp school counseling by setting a four-part framework (foundation, management, delivery, accountability) and encouraging counselors to spend 90% of time on direct or indirect student contact; the committee passed the bill amid concerns from superintendents about district fiscal impacts and training.
Senate Bill 199, sponsored by Senator Brianne Davis, would overhaul the state's student-services plan and set a clearer framework for school counselors' responsibilities. Stacy Smith of the Arkansas Department of Education said the bill grew from the school-safety commission report and centers on four components: foundation (vision, mission and program goals), management (data-driven planning), delivery (emphasis on direct and indirect services) and accountability (annual review).
Smith described a target that counselors spend roughly 90% of their time on direct and indirect student…
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