REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR EVALUATE THE FEASIBILITY OF APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.

Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Rep. Osienski & Rep. Griffith & Rep. Snyder-Hall & Rep. K. Williams & Sen. Sturgeon

Reps. K. Johnson, Morrison; Sen. Walsh

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 131

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR EVALUATE THE FEASIBILITY OF APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.

WHEREAS, children and adolescents in Delaware are experiencing significant and increasing mental health needs; and

WHEREAS, schools serve as a primary setting for the delivery of mental health supports, particularly for students who may otherwise lack access to community-based services; and

WHEREAS, Delaware faces ongoing shortages of qualified school mental health professionals, including school counselors, psychologists, and social workers, limiting the capacity of schools to provide comprehensive, tiered mental health supports and services; and

WHEREAS, existing graduate preparation pathways are not producing sufficient numbers of professionals to meet statewide demand, particularly in high-need districts and rural areas; and

WHEREAS, financial and structural barriers, including the cost of graduate education and unpaid field-based training requirements, limit entry into school mental health professions and contribute to workforce shortages; and

WHEREAS, apprenticeship pathways provide earn-while-you-learn models that combine paid employment with structured field-based training, reducing financial barriers and accelerating workforce entry; and

WHEREAS, apprenticeship models offer a promising, evidence-informed strategy to expand the school mental health professional workforce; and

WHEREAS, investing in apprenticeship pathways for school mental health professionals has the potential to improve recruitment, preparation, and retention, while increasing access to timely and effective services for Delaware students; and

WHEREAS, expanding the school mental health workforce is essential to advancing statewide priorities related to student health and well-being, academic engagement and success, and school climate and safety.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 153rd General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the Senate concurring therein, that the Department of Labor (“Department”) shall develop a report and recommendations on the feasibility and potential design of a school-based mental health professional apprenticeship program.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department shall collaborate with the Delaware Association of School Psychologists, the School Social Worker Association of Delaware, The Delaware School Counselors Association, the Delaware Association of School Administrators, and Delaware institutes for higher education in the development of the report.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department shall include the following in the report:

(1) An assessment of the current and projected workforce needs for other school-based mental health professionals in Delaware.

(2) An analysis of the feasibility of establishing a registered apprenticeship program for school-based mental health professionals, including alignment with state licensure and certification requirements.

(3) An evaluation of partnerships needed to support such a program, including roles for school districts, institutions of higher education, and state agencies.

(4) An analysis of funding mechanisms and cost considerations, including potential use of state, federal, and private funding sources, and strategies to support apprentice wages and tuition assistance.

(5) An evaluation of the on-the-job learning infrastructure required to implement and sustain such an apprenticeship model, including considerations for mentors' professional learning and compensation.

(6) An assessment of how an apprenticeship model could improve recruitment and retention, particularly in high-need and underserved communities.

(7) Recommendations for pilot program implementation, including potential timelines and participating sites.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department must submit the report to the Chair of the House Labor Committee, Chair of the Senate Labor Committee, the Chair of the House Education Committee, the Chair of the Senate Education Committee, the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Joint Finance Committee, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and the Controller General by November 1, 2026.

SYNOPSIS

This House Concurrent Resolution requests the Department of Labor to evaluate the feasibility of apprenticeship programs for school-based mental health professionals and submit a report to certain members of the General Assembly, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Controller General by November 1, 2026.