It is time that we provide teachers and students with the support they need to succeed. This is why I plan to re-introduce the Student and Teacher Support Act to allow public school entities to employ, or approve as a volunteer, a certified school chaplain.

Data from more than thirty thousand schools in 23 countries show, on average, a 37% increase in high school graduation rates, an 80% decrease in teen pregnancies and a virtual elimination of suicides when a chaplain is present in school. Schools with chaplains present show an increase in student grades, teacher retention, school safety, respect for authorities, and student-teacher relations and a decrease in alcohol and drug consumption, school violence, discipline issues, and bullying.

Throughout America, certified Chaplains are employed by airports, hospitals, U.S Department of Defense, federal and state prisons, U.S Congress, fire departments, police departments and The CIA. Now is the time to also give our teachers and students access to chaplains.

Please join me in co-sponsoring the Student and Teacher Support Act to allow school boards to put chaplains in schools.

Previous cosponsors of HB 2183, 2023-2024: STAMBAUGH, PICKETT, GREINER, ROWE, BARTON, COOK, JAMES, D'ORSIE, BOROWICZ and T JONES

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 1354 (Apr 15, 2025): P.L.30, No.14
Printer's No. 1354: P.L.30, No.14