mandate that each school hire a test coordinator other than counselors to organize test administration and input data.

With the problems that students have at home and in school, the duties of a counselor are increasing every day. Students need a person to talk to in their time of need about their everyday problems as well as their future. Testing in the school system has become the major role of the counselor taking weeks of time away from student contact. Subject area testing in Mississippi consists of 3 weeks in the fall and 3 weeks in the spring. This includes subject area testing (Algebra I, Biology I, English II and US History), the PSAT, the PLAN, 6 ACT administrations, Advanced Placement testing, the NAPE, and ASVAB. Mandating that the schools hire a testing coordinator to organize the administration of all tests will create jobs while allowing counselors to address the needs of all students.