GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2005

S                                                                                                                                                     1

SENATE BILL 571

Short Title:     School Counselors & Dropout Prevention/Study.		(Public)
Sponsors:	Senators Swindell;  Albertson, Allran, Atwater, Bingham, Clodfelter, Dannelly, Dorsett, Garwood, Jenkins, Kinnaird, Lucas, Malone, Rand, Soles, Stevens, Thomas, and Tillman.
Referred to:	Education/Higher Education.

March 16, 2005

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT directing the state board of education to report on the role school counselors play in providing dropout prevention and intervention services to students in middle and high school.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Research shows that school counselors can provide effective services to students that encourage them to stay in school, succeed in school, and graduate from high school.  Research also shows that middle school is a critical time for students who are at risk of dropping out of school.  The General Assembly currently provides funding that local school administrative units may use to hire school counselors; it is unclear, however, what role school counselors play in providing effective and efficient dropout prevention and intervention services to students in middle and high school. The General Assembly needs additional information to determine whether adjustments should be made in funding for school counselors or assignment of duties to school counselors; therefore, the State Board of Education shall report the following information to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee prior to March 15, 2006:

(1)       The number of school counselors per school with a sixth grade or higher grade;

(2)       The source of funds used for each of these counselors;

(3)       A review and analysis of the counselors' primary duties by school;

(4)       A summary and description of school-based dropout prevention and intervention services provided directly to students in the sixth grade and higher grades, including the role of school counselors in providing the services; and

(5)       The number of school counselors and other individuals per local school administrative unit whose primary responsibility is to provide school-based dropout prevention and intervention services and the percentage of their time spent providing these services.

SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2005.