Requires school districts and board of cooperative educational services to pay physical therapists and occupational therapists in alignment with the department's career ladder pathway framework; makes related provisions.
Summary
This bill amends the Education Law in two related ways. First, it updates section 912 to expressly include physical therapists and occupational therapists among the health and welfare services that school districts may provide to children attending nonpublic schools, alongside other school health personnel such as nurses, psychologists, and speech therapists. The existing framework for contracting between the district of residence and the district where the nonpublic school is located remains in place.
Second, the bill adds a new section 3039 requiring any school district or board of cooperative educational services (BOCES) that employs a licensed physical therapist or occupational therapist to categorize and pay those professionals in alignment with the Education Department’s career ladder pathway framework. It also requires districts and BOCES to offer these therapists school leadership opportunities developed collaboratively to support professional learning, advancement, and leadership within the education workforce. The bill would take effect July 1 following enactment.
Impact
The bill would affect the Education Law by expanding the list of health and welfare services expressly recognized under section 912 and by creating a new compensation and advancement requirement for school-employed physical and occupational therapists under section 3039. School districts and BOCES would need to review salary structures, job classifications, and professional advancement pathways for these licensed therapists to ensure alignment with the department’s career ladder framework. It could also influence contracts and service arrangements for nonpublic school students receiving district-provided health services.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials, the overall sentiment appears supportive and workforce-oriented. The measure is framed as a professional recognition and compensation bill for school-based therapists, with an emphasis on aligning pay and leadership opportunities with broader educator career pathways. No formal opposition or recorded controversy is shown in the available context.
Contention
The main potential points of contention are likely to be fiscal and administrative rather than ideological. School districts and BOCES may object to the cost of reclassifying and increasing pay for physical and occupational therapists, as well as the operational burden of implementing a career ladder framework and creating leadership opportunities. Another possible issue is whether the Education Department’s framework is sufficiently defined to guide compliance, especially for districts with existing collective bargaining agreements or local pay scales.
Same As
Requires school districts and board of cooperative educational services to pay physical therapists and occupational therapists in alignment with the department's career ladder pathway framework; makes related provisions.
Requires school districts and board of cooperative educational services to pay physical therapists and occupational therapists in alignment with the department's career ladder pathway framework; makes related provisions.
Requires school districts and board of cooperative educational services to pay physical therapists and occupational therapists in alignment with the department's career ladder pathway framework; makes related provisions.
Includes physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, respiratory therapists, respiratory therapy technicians, and recreational therapists within the existing statutory staffing standards for nursing homes.
Relating to the authority of the Wood County Central Hospital District of Wood County, Texas, to provide brain and memory care services to residents of the hospital district through the creation and operation of brain and memory health care services districts.