The bill amends the definition of "instructional support provider" in the Public School Code to include community health workers as part of the personnel who support the instructional program within school districts. This change is reflected in Section 1, where the term now encompasses educational assistants, school counselors, social workers, school nurses, and other related professionals, along with the newly added community health workers.

Additionally, the bill updates the licensure requirements for instructional support providers in Section 2, specifying that community health workers must also obtain appropriate licensure from the public education department. The department is tasked with establishing a professional licensing framework that allows these providers to advance their careers through demonstrated competencies and increased responsibilities. This inclusion aims to enhance the support system available to students in public schools by recognizing the role of community health workers in educational settings.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 22-10A-17