Many have expressed concern over having to spend an exorbitant amount of time coordinating tests, making schedule changes, substituting for absent teachers, covering lunch and bus duty, and taking on disciplinary duties. In Texas, there is a grant program available to school districts to hire elementary school counselors. The Texas Education Code includes a statute that limits the duties of these counselors to those that involve working closely with parents, teachers, other school personnel and the community to address student needs. These counselors are able to implement programs that help students develop their full educational potential. HB 2450 will extend this statute to all certified school counselors in Texas.
Many grave issues confront our youth in the public schools.
Our children are experiencing violence and the schools are having to address issues related to drug abuse, suicidal behavior, truancy and academic failure. Yet, we have a very valuable resource that is underutilized in the public schools. Public school counselors are committed and dedicated professionals who have undergone rigorous training in areas such as crisis prevention and intervention, career counseling and individual and group counseling. The Texas Counseling Association adopted a legislative platform that involved defining the role of the school counselor in Texas. Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr. sponsored our bill in the Senate and it was heard by the Senate Education Committee on March 7.