SB 341

Starting with the 2025-2026 sch ool year , this bill requires the department of education to allocate to each local education agency (LEA) sufficient funds to employ one full-time licensed professional school counselor position at each high school in the LEA that enrolls at least 600 stud ents in grades 10-12 . If an LEA employs one or more part-time licensed professional school counselors at a high school that enrolls at least 600 students in grades 10-12 , then this bill authorizes the LEA to use any funds received that are referenced abo ve, to employ a part-time licensed professional school counselor on a full-time basis. This bill clarifies that an LEA that converts a part-time licensed professional school counselor position to a full-time position according to the previous sentence, s a tisfies the requirement that each LEA must employ one full-time licensed professional school counselor for each position funded according to this bill. If an LEA employs one full-time licensed professional school counselor for every 250 student members of the LEA, then this bill authorizes the LEA to use any funds received according to the above to supplement the cost to the LEA of employing the number of full-time licensed professional school counselors required to meet the specified ratio. However, t his bill does not require an LEA that employs one full-time licensed professional school counselor position for every 250 students of the LEA to employ any additional full-time licensed professional school counselor positions beyond the number required fo r the LEA to meet the specified ratio. CLASSIFICATION AS ADDITIONAL LEA FUNDS This bill provides that the funds assigned to an LEA pursuant to this bill are additional LEA funds for purposes of the Tennessee investment in student achievement formula (TI SA). RULEMAKING This bill authorizes the state board to make rules to establish the responsibilities of a full-time licensed professional school counselor whose position is funded according to this bill. However, this bill requires the state board to m ake rules to establish the amount of time each full-time licensed professional school counselor must dedicate to providing high school students with counseling services as long as each school counselor dedicates at least 70% o f their time working directly with high school students.