Austin-area schools overwhelmingly reject hiring chaplains as counselors

Austin-area schools overwhelmingly reject hiring chaplains as counselors

State Rep. James Talarico, an Austin Democrat, praised school boards across Texas on Thursday for rejecting a Republican-led effort to let religious chaplains provide mental health services to students. “We are here to celebrate an important victory in the fight against Christian nationalism,” Talarico said during a news conference at the Texas Capitol.

The Legislation and Opposition

The legislation, Senate Bill 763, passed the Texas Legislature in May 2023 and allows districts to hire chaplains to perform the duties of school counselors even if they don’t have the training or credentials for the job. Talarico has been a staunch opponent of the new law that also required school boards to take a record vote on whether to employ chaplains in this capacity by March 1. Supporters of the law said their goal was to help schools struggling to find enough mental health professionals to serve students.

Local School Boards’ Decisions

Several faith-based groups opposed to SB 763 joined Talarico at the news conference, including Texas Impact, an interfaith group that helps religious leaders and their congregations learn about public policy and how to engage with their elected officials. Austin ISD is among the local school districts that will not hire chaplains as school counselors. Bastrop ISD’s school board also opted against allowing the district to hire unlicensed chaplains as counselors. Other school districts in the Austin area that decided against policies to hire chaplains as school counselors include Del Valle ISD, Dripping Springs ISD, Eanes ISD, Georgetown ISD, Hays CISD, Hutto ISD, Lake Travis ISD, Leander ISD, Manor ISD, Pflugerville ISD, and Round Rock ISD.

State Rep. Talarico’s Remarks

Talarico said he thinks it is an asset that school boards had to take a record vote on the issue because it’s going to show lawmakers that this is deeply unpopular in all parts of the state. This story was produced as part of the Austin Monitor’s reporting partnership with KUT. The Austin Monitor’s work is made possible by donations from the community.