Chaplains may soon be allowed to counsel children in Indiana public schools under a new Senate Bill that would allow school districts to hire clergy.
Senate Bill 50, authored by Sen. Stacy Donato, R-Logansport, moved through the Senate’s education committee Wednesday with a 9-4 vote.
Donato’s bill would allow public school districts and charter schools to have a chaplain, or certified clergy member, on staff who could provide religious support to students so long as permission is granted by the student and/or their parents. Parents could also give permission for the chaplains to act as counselors and provide secular or non-religious support.
As of 2021-22, Indiana had a student-to-counselor ratio of 694 to 1 while the American School Counselor Association’s recommends a ratio of 250 to 1. Donato told lawmakers hiring clergy would offer more support to students.
“We are just trying to provide another tool to help with the production of great students,” Donato said.
The bill requires the school chaplains to hold a master’s degree in divinity, theology, or religious studies and have more than two years of counseling experience. Volunteer chaplains will also be allowed in schools at the district’s discretion.