MN HF605

School districts must provide adequate school counseling services to students, either by directly employing or contracting licensed school counselors.

Establishes a maximum student-to-counselor ratio of 400 enrolled students (kindergarten through grade 12) per licensed school counselor beginning in the 2016-2017 school year, with flexibility to exceed the ratio by up to 20 percent in any single year if the five-year average does not exceed 400 students per counselor.

School districts are eligible for state counseling aid equal to a specified dollar amount multiplied by the number of full-time equivalent licensed school counselors employed or under contract.

Appropriates an unspecified amount from the general fund to the Department of Education in fiscal year 2017 for school counseling aid.