Department to issue RFA for career-coaching vendors as task force weighs role of coaches vs. counselors

Task-force staff said the department is preparing an RFA to identify career‑coaching vendors while the group weighs how career coaches would complement certified school counselors. The assistant superintendent emphasized the need to clarify whether career coaches would be district staff or outside vendors and warned against allowing outside providers to overreach into counselor responsibilities.

The Department suggested Ascension Parish’s model as an example of integrated career coaching. Staff said they will post vendor information and materials on the DOE website and that the RFA would be released in late September or October.