Bill > HB1530

This bill amends the Public School Code of 1949 to make the following key changes: 1. It repeals provisions relating to psychological services in intermediate units. 2. It expands the definition of "professional employee" to include school social workers. 3. It requires school entities to employ school social workers who hold an educational specialist certificate, with certain exceptions. 4. It requires school entities to maintain comprehensive health records for students, including documentation of social, emotional, and behavioral data provided by school counselors, psychologists, social workers, and nurses. 5. It establishes student-to-staff ratios for school counselors (1:250), school psychologists (1:500), school social workers (1:250), and school nurses (1:750 for regular education, 1:225 for mixed regular and special education, and 1:125 for severe or profound disabilities). 6. It allows school counselors, psychologists, and social workers to consult with a student's private healthcare provider with parental consent. The bill aims to enhance the provision of mental health, counseling, and other related services in schools across Pennsylvania.