Title: A resolution supporting the designation of the week of April 8 through April 12, 2019, as "National Specialized Instructional Support Personnel Appreciation Week".
Policy area: Education

Summary:
This resolution supports the designation of April 8-April 12, 2019, as National Specialized Instructional Support Personnel Appreciation Week. Specialized instructional support personnel include school counselors, school nurses, mental health personnel, social workers, therapists, and speech pathologists and audiologists serving the nation's schools and students.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 181 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 181

  Supporting the designation of the week of April 8 through April 12, 
    2019, as ``National Specialized Instructional Support Personnel 
                          Appreciation Week''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 1, 2019

  Ms. Hassan (for herself, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Casey, Ms. 
Ernst, Mr. Hoeven, Mr. Isakson, Mr. Jones, Mr. Kaine, Mrs. Murray, and 
Ms. Smith) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
                               agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Supporting the designation of the week of April 8 through April 12, 
    2019, as ``National Specialized Instructional Support Personnel 
                          Appreciation Week''.

Whereas there are more than 1,000,000 specialized instructional support 
        personnel serving the schools and students of the United States, 
        including--

    (1) school counselors;

    (2) school social workers;

    (3) school psychologists; and

    (4) other qualified professional personnel, such as--

    G    (A) school nurses;

    G    (B) psychologists;

    G    (C) social workers;

    G    (D) occupational therapists;

    G    (E) physical therapists;

    G    (F) art therapists;

    G    (G) dance and movement therapists;

    G    (H) music therapists;

    G    (I) speech-language pathologists; and

    G    (J) audiologists;

Whereas specialized instructional support personnel provide school-based 
        prevention and early intervention services to reduce barriers to 
        learning;
Whereas specialized instructional support personnel work with teachers, school 
        leaders, and parents to ensure that all students are successful in 
        school;
Whereas specialized instructional support personnel encourage multidisciplinary 
        collaboration to promote student and school success;
Whereas specialized instructional support personnel provide educational, social, 
        emotional, and behavioral interventions and activities that support--

    (1) student learning; and

    (2) teaching;

Whereas specialized instructional support personnel help to create environments 
        that are safe, supportive, and conducive to learning;
Whereas safe and supportive school environments are associated with improved 
        academic performance;
Whereas specialized instructional support personnel support--

    (1) student communication;

    (2) the development of social skills by students;

    (3) the physical wellness of students;

    (4) the physical development of students; and

    (5) the behavioral, emotional, and mental health of students; and

Whereas specialized instructional support personnel serve all students who 
        struggle with barriers to learning: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) supports the designation of April 8 through April 12, 
        2019, as ``National Specialized Instructional Support Personnel 
        Appreciation Week'';
            (2) recognizes that specialized instructional support 
        personnel implement evidence-based practices to improve student 
        outcomes;
            (3) commends--
                    (A) those individuals who work as specialized 
                instructional support personnel; and
                    (B) the individuals and organizations that support 
                the efforts made by specialized instructional support 
                personnel to promote and improve the availability of 
                specialized instructional support services;
            (4) encourages Federal, State, and local policymakers to 
        work together to raise awareness of the importance of 
        specialized instructional support personnel in school climate 
        and education efforts;
            (5) recognizes the important role of specialized 
        instructional support personnel in efforts to improve mental 
        health, reduce drug use, and improve overall community safety 
        for students; and
            (6) encourages experts to share best practices so that 
        others can replicate the success of those experts.
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