House Bill No. 2880 introduces a new designation for school district campuses in Texas that actively work to enhance the mental and behavioral health and well-being of their students. The bill adds Section 33.917 to the Education Code, establishing the "Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education (AWARE) Campus" designation. To qualify for this designation, campuses must meet several criteria, including employing a school counselor who dedicates at least 80% of their time to a comprehensive counseling program, maintaining partnerships with mental health care providers, providing staff training on mental health issues, implementing a multitiered support system for student well-being, and maintaining an accessible online resource for mental health services.

The bill outlines specific requirements for campuses to achieve the AWARE designation, such as creating a multidisciplinary team for support strategies, maintaining a resource list of available interventions, and ensuring that information about mental health services is easily accessible to students and families. The provisions of this act will take effect starting with the 2025-2026 school year, and it will be implemented immediately if it receives a two-thirds majority vote from both houses of the legislature; otherwise, it will take effect on September 1, 2025.

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