Each public school district shall:
(1) Develop and implement a comprehensive school counseling program that:
(A) Is implemented by:
- (i) An Arkansas-certified school counselor;
- (ii) A counselor serving under an additional licensure plan; or
- (iii) A school employee acting as a school counselor under a waiver granted under Arkansas Code § 6-15-103(c);
(B) Is a single school district plan that:
- (i) Is systematically aligned to kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12); and
- (ii) Contains the four (4) components to provide direct and indirect services for all students as outlined in 6 CAR § 248-105;
- (C) Utilizes state-recognized and nationally recognized counselor frameworks; and
- (D) Is updated and posted on the district’s website under “State-Required Information” by August 1 of each year;
(2)
- (A) Allot sufficient time for the school counselor to carry out the duties stated in the comprehensive school counseling plan required under Arkansas Code § 6-18-2003.
(B)
- (i) During student contact days, a school counselor shall spend at least ninety percent (90%) of his or her working time providing direct and indirect services to students.
- (ii) Services may be provided in collaboration with other school personnel.
(C) Regularly scheduled classroom guidance shall be limited to forty-minute class sessions, not to exceed:
- (i) Three (3) class sessions per day; and
- (ii) Ten (10) class sessions per week.
(D)
- (i) Administrative activities shall not exceed more than ten percent (10%) of the school counselor’s time spent working during student contact days.
(ii) Administrative activities provided by a school counselor in collaboration with other school personnel include, without limitation:
- (a) (a) Coordinating:
- (1) (1) State assessments;
- (2) (2) Cognitive achievement assessments;
- (3) (3) Advanced Placement programs; and
(4) (4) Language acquisition testing programs;
(b) (b) Developing master schedules;
- (c) (c) Coordinating of:
- (1) (1) Teams convened under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Pub. L. No. 93-112;
- (2) (2) Response-to-intervention teams;
- (3) (3) English language learner programs;
- (4) (4) Parental involvement or family engagement programs;
- (5) (5) Positive behavioral intervention support programs;
- (6) (6) Data entry; and
(7) (7) Advanced Placement and gifted and talented programs; and
- (d) (d) Monitoring students in common areas such as the:
- (1) (1) Cafeteria;
- (2) (2) Hallway;
- (3) (3) Playground; and
(4) (4) Bus lines.
(iii) Administrative activities do not include:
(a) (a) Professional learning, professional networking, or professional conferences that are directly related to or aligned with the comprehensive school counseling program; or
- (b) (b) Facilitation of administrative conferences or advisory council meetings.
(E) Compliance with requirements of subdivisions (2)(B) and (D) of this section will be assessed based on data: (i) As reported in:
(a) (a) The school counseling plan; and
- (b) (b) The Arkansas Annual Administrative Conference Form; and
- (ii) Reported through the Division of Public School Accountability; and
- (3) By September 1, 2024, and every four (4) years following, allot time for youth mental health training, as prescribed by the State Board of Education, per Arkansas Code § 6-18-2004(d).