Bill > HB2253

This bill, known as the School Life Support Coaches Act, aims to address the increasing mental health challenges faced by high school students in Pennsylvania by requiring public high schools to employ "school life support coaches," who are trained, nonclinical professionals providing daily emotional support, mentorship, crisis response, and social-emotional guidance. These coaches are distinct from licensed school psychologists, social workers, and counselors, and their role is to offer nonclinical support, meaning they focus on resilience, coping skills, and immediate emotional assistance without diagnosing or treating mental health conditions. The bill mandates specific student-to-coach ratios, with higher ratios for "high need" schools or districts identified by factors like poverty or low attendance, and allows for regional sharing of coaches to optimize costs. Coaches must have at least a bachelor's degree and relevant experience, or an associate's degree with more experience, and undergo training in areas like trauma-informed care and cultural competence, with ongoing continuing education required. The Department of Education is tasked with providing guidance on competitive compensation, offering optional resources like recruitment templates and start-up grants, and reviewing data every three years, while school districts must report annually on coach employment, student ratios, and program outcomes. The bill also outlines liability protections for coaches acting in good faith and emphasizes collaboration with licensed staff for referrals when clinical intervention is needed, with a phased implementation starting with high-need districts and becoming a requirement for all districts by the 2029-2030 school year.

Education

https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/2025/hb2253