2019 Kentucky Revised Statutes Chapter 158 - Conduct of schools -- special programs 158.4416 Trauma-informed approach to education -- Definitions -- School counselor or school-based mental health services provider to facilitate creation of trauma-informed team -- Training and guidance of school personnel to assist in recognizing and dealing with issues of student trauma -- Application to charter schools -- Collaboration for provision of services between two or more school districts or between school districts and educational cooperatives, or other public or private entities -- Annual report to department of number and placement of school counselors in each district, source of funding, summary of job duties, and percentage of time devoted to each duty -- Department of Education to make available toolkits to develop trauma-informed approach in schools -- Plan and strategies for implementing trauma-informed approach.
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158.4416 Trauma-informed approach to education -- Definitions -- School
counselor or school-based mental health services provider to facilitate
creation of trauma-informed team -- Training and guidance of school
personnel to assist in recognizing and dealing with issues of student
trauma -- Application to charter schools -- Collaboration for provision of
services between two or more school districts or between school
districts and educational cooperatives, or other public or private entities
-- Annual report to department of number and placement of school
counselors in each district, source of funding, summary of job duties,
and percentage of time devoted to each duty -- Department of Education
to make available toolkits to develop trauma-informed approach in
schools -- Plan and strategies for implementing trauma-informed
approach.
(1)
(2)
(3)
For purposes of this section:
(a) "School counselor" means an individual who holds a valid school
counselor certificate issued in accordance with the administrative
regulations of the Education Professional Standards Board;
(b) "School-based mental health services provider" means a licensed or
certified school counselor, school psychologist, school social worker, or
other qualified mental health professional as defined in KRS 202A.011;
and
(c) "Trauma-informed approach" means incorporating principles of trauma
awareness and trauma-informed practices, as recommended by the
federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, in a
school in order to foster a safe, stable, and understanding learning
environment for all students and staff and ensuring that all students are
known well by at least one (1) adult in the school setting.
The General Assembly recognizes that all schools must provide a place for
students to feel safe and supported to learn throughout the school day, and
that any trauma a student may have experienced can have a significant impact
on the ability of a student to learn. The General Assembly directs all public
schools to adopt a trauma-informed approach to education in order to better
recognize, understand, and address the learning needs of students impacted
by trauma and to foster a learning environment where all students, including
those who have been traumatized, can be safe, successful, and known well by
at least one (1) adult in the school setting.
(a) Beginning July 1, 2021, or as funds and qualified personnel become
available, each school district and each public charter school shall employ
at least one (1) school counselor in each school with the goals of having
one (1) school counselor for every two hundred fifty (250) students and
the school counselor spending sixty percent (60%) or more of his or her
time in direct services to students.
(b) A school counselor or school-based mental health services provider at
each school shall facilitate the creation of a trauma-informed team to
identify and assist students whose learning, behavior, and relationships
have been impacted by trauma. The trauma-informed team may consist
of school administrators, school counselors, school-based mental health
(4)
(5)
services providers, family resource and youth services coordinators,
school nurses, and any other school or district personnel.
(c) Each school counselor or school-based mental health services provider
providing services pursuant to this section, and the trauma-informed team
members described in paragraph (b) of this subsection, shall provide
training, guidance, and assistance to other administrators, teachers, and
staff on:
1.
Recognizing symptoms of trauma in students;
2.
Utilizing interventions and strategies to support the learning needs
of those students; and
3.
Implementing a plan for a trauma-informed approach as described
in subsection (5) of this section.
(d) 1.
School districts may employ or contract for the services of
school-based mental health services providers to assist with the
development and implementation of a trauma-informed approach
and the development of a trauma-informed team pursuant to this
subsection and to enhance or expand student mental health support
services as funds and qualified personnel become available.
2.
School-based mental health services providers may provide
services through a collaboration between two (2) or more school
districts or between school districts and educational cooperatives or
any other public or private entities, including but not limited to local
or regional mental health day treatment programs.
(e) No later than November 1, 2019, and each subsequent year, the local
school district superintendent shall report to the department the number
and placement of school counselors in the district. The report shall
include the source of funding for each position, as well as a summary of
the job duties and work undertaken by each counselor and the
approximate percent of time devoted to each duty over the course of the
year.
On or before July 1, 2020, the Department of Education shall make available a
toolkit that includes guidance, strategies, behavioral interventions, practices,
and techniques to assist school districts and public charter schools in
developing a trauma-informed approach in schools.
On or before July 1, 2021, each local board of education and board of a public
charter school shall develop a plan for implementing a trauma-informed
approach in its schools. The plan shall include but not be limited to strategies
for:
(a) Enhancing trauma awareness throughout the school community;
(b) Conducting an assessment of the school climate, including but not limited
to inclusiveness and respect for diversity;
(c) Developing trauma-informed discipline policies;
(d) Collaborating with the Department of Kentucky State Police, the local
sheriff, and the chief of police to create procedures for notification of
student-involved trauma; and
(e)
Providing services and programs designed to reduce the negative impact
of trauma, support critical learning, and foster a positive and safe school
environment for every student.
Effective:March 11, 2019
History: Created 2019 Ky. Acts ch. 5, sec. 16, effective March 11, 2019.
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