Bill > HB1510

This bill establishes a new School Counselor Grant Fund to help school corporations and charter schools (excluding virtual charter schools) hire more school counselors. The fund will be administered by the state's department of education and can receive money through legislative appropriations and other gifts or grants. To receive a grant, schools must submit an application detailing their current counselor-to-student ratio and a plan for using the grant to improve that ratio. The bill appropriates $15 million for the state biennium beginning July 1, 2025, specifically to support school counselor hiring. The fund will be managed by the state treasurer, who will invest unneeded money and allow any unused funds to remain available for the program's purposes rather than reverting to the general fund. The state board is authorized to adopt rules for implementing the grant program, and the appropriation is set to expire on July 1, 2027. The primary goal of this legislation is to help schools increase their counseling support for students by providing financial resources to hire additional school counselors.