LAWS OF DELAWARE
VOLUME 83
CHAPTER 126
151st GENERAL ASSEMBLY
FORMERLY
HOUSE BILL NO. 100
AS AMENDED BY
HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 2
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO FREE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
WHEREAS, 1 in 5 school students suffer from a mental health disorder; and
WHEREAS, 11% of youth have a mood disorder, 10% of youth have a behavior or conduct disorder, and 8% of youth have an anxiety disorder; and
WHEREAS, 45% of children have had a potentially traumatic experience; and
WHEREAS, children who are identified as
in need of behavioral supports at ages 3-4 have a high probability of continued behavioral difficulties in adolescence, and when aggressive or antisocial behavior has persisted until age 9, further intervention has a poor chance of success; and
WHEREAS, of young children who show early signs of challenging behavior, fewer than 10% receive mental health services, resulting in less than 1/3 of the children and adolescents with a diagnosable mental health condition receiving any type of treatment; and
WHEREAS, 50% of all lifelong cases of mental illness begin by age 14, and 37% of students with a mental health condition at age 14 and older, drop out of school which is the highest school dropout rate of any group of students with a disability; and
WHEREAS, 70% of youth in state juvenile systems have a mental illness; and
WHEREAS, youth with access to mental health services in school-based health centers are 10 times more likely to seek care for mental health or substance abuse than youth without access; and
WHEREAS, early intervention is critical to building life skills, resilience, and mental wellness; and
WHEREAS, leading counseling and mental health organizations, including the American School Counselor Association, the National Association of School Psychologists, and the School Social Worker Association of America recommend that schools maintain all of the following:
(a) A maximum student to school counselor ratio of 250 to 1.
(b) A maximum student to school social worker ratio of 250 to 1.
(c) A student to school psychologist ratio of 500 to 1; and
WHEREAS, Delaware elementary schools currently maintain an average ratio of 580 students to each school counselor; and
WHEREAS, the American School Counselor Association National Model includes a strong foundation in social and emotional learning, direct and indirect counseling, and establishing positive mindsets and behaviors; and
WHEREAS, school counselors are prepared to address barriers and assess ways to maximize students’ success in schools, communities, and their family structure by offering education, prevention, and crisis and short-term intervention until the student is connected to available community resources; and
WHEREAS, 86% of Delaware elementary schools do not employ a school social worker; and
WHEREAS, school social workers create and implement school-based programs to promote a positive school environment for all students, work with the entire student body to identify students in need of more intensive interventions, and connect these students to additional services in the community where needed; and
WHEREAS, school social workers serve as a resource to the principal and other educators by providing training on identifying students with mental health needs and providing a referral process when services are sought; and
WHEREAS, by working more closely with individual students and their families, school social workers also create a bridge between the school and the community by coordinating students with resources in the community. This coordination is critical to a school’s success and by partnering with services in the community, social workers maximize limited resources, facilitate better delivery of services, and maintain communication between partners; and
WHEREAS, school psychologists provide services that promote a child’s communication and social skills, problem solving, anger management, conflict resolution, self-regulation, self-determination, resilience, and optimism; and
WHEREAS, school psychologists consult with teachers and administrators on effective classroom management strategies, promoting positive peer relationships and social problem-solving, school-wide positive behavior interventions and supports, effective discipline policies and practices, and programs to promote student wellness and reduce risk-taking; and
WHEREAS, school psychologists provide mental health services, including wellness and prevention programming, risk assessment and interventions, and counseling, which are proven to reduce discipline referrals and increase attendance and academic performance; and
WHEREAS, Delaware educators report that students come to school with significant unmet needs that impact the students’ ability to learn in school, such as hunger, homelessness, trauma, mental health issues; and
WHEREAS, without adequate resources to support our students, these challenges manifest as frequent, and at times severe, disruptions in school that take impact learning and affect all our students.
NOW, THEREFORE:
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
Section 1. Amend
§ 1716E, Title
14 of the
Delaware Code by
making deletions as
shown by strike
through and insertions as shown by underline as
follows:
§ 1716E Mental health services unit and funding.
(a) “Mental health services unit” for funding purposes
means:
(1) In fiscal year 2022, one unit for each 400 full-time equivalent students in a school district or charter school, grades K through 5 for employment of a full-time school counselor, or school social worker or a licensed clinical social worker who is certified by the Delaware Department of Education as a school social worker. Districts and charter schools shall qualify for funding for a fractional part of 400 full-time equivalent pupils enrolled in grades K through 5.
(2) In fiscal year 2023, one unit for each 325 full-time equivalent students in a school district or charter school, grades K through 5 for employment of a full-time school counselor, or school social worker or a licensed clinical social worker who is certified by the Delaware Department of Education as a school social worker. Districts and charter schools shall qualify for funding for a fractional part of 325 full-time equivalent pupils enrolled in grades K through 5.
(3) Beginning in fiscal year 2024, one unit for each 250 full-time equivalent students in a school district or charter school, grades K through 5 for employment of a full-time school counselor, or school social worker or a licensed clinical social worker who is certified by the Delaware Department of Education as a school social worker. Districts and charter schools shall qualify for funding for a fractional part of 250 full-time equivalent pupils enrolled in grades K through 5
(2) 1 unit for each 700 full time equivalent students in a school district or charter school, grades K through
5 for employment
of full-time school
psychologists or licensed mental health therapist
with experience in a school setting or experience providing direct services to school age children.
Districts and charter
schools shall qualify
for funding for
a fractional part of 700 full-time equivalent pupils enrolled in grades K through
5.
(b) Each
pupil counted in
establishing a unit
for mental health
services may be
counted only once
in a district
or charter.
(c) For purposes
of this section,
“mental health services”
means prevention, response,
and coordination services
delivered to students in elementary school building.
(d) Funds appropriated
by this unit
shall be used
for employment of
full-time licensed mental health therapists who hold the appropriate license as required by the Board of Mental Health and Chemical
Dependency Professional or school
counselors, school social
workers, or school
psychologists that hold
the appropriate licensure
and certifications under
Chapter 12 of
this title.
(1) School counselors
shall be required
to provide services
that are aligned
with the American
School Counselor Association
(ASCA) National Model,
including the provisions
related to indirect
and direct services
as those terms are defined by
ASCA.
(2) School social workers shall be required to provide services aligned to the National Association of School Social Work school
social work standards.
(3) School psychologists shall be required to provide services aligned with the National Association of
School Psychologists (NASP)
Model for Comprehensive
and Integrated School
Psychological Services.
(e) Funds cannot be used to supplant a unit currently allocated under this section unless a district or charter
school has met or exceeded the ratios listed in §
1716E(a).
(f) Funds
appropriated in support
of this unit
shall be applied
to the employment
of a full-time
certified, licensed school counselor, school social worker, licensed clinical social worker,
school psychologist, or licensed mental health therapists Districts may pursue contracting out school psychologists with approval of their governing board
until such time as school psychologists are no longer designated by the Department of Education as certification shortage area. Districts or charter schools must combine fractional units to
fund additional full-time
mental health services
staff to the
extent possible. Districts
and charter schools
may exercise a
cash option consistent
with the provisions
of §1716(g) of
this title for
any remaining fractional
funding. Funds received
under this provision must
be used for
the purchase of
materials or services
to be used
in support of
preventative and responsive mental health services herein authorized, and for no other
purpose.
(g) To the extent possible, school districts should prioritize the hiring and placement of staff hired pursuant to this section in schools with the highest percentage of low-income students, English language learners and students with disabilities.
(h) By December 31, 2025 the Department of Education, in coordination with the General Assembly, shall develop a strategic plan
to reasonably expand this unit into Delaware district pre-schools middle schools and high schools.
(i) The Department of
Education shall promulgate
rules and regulations
to implement and
enforce this chapter.
Approved August 19, 2021