MN HF1157

School districts must provide adequate school counseling services, either through direct employment or contract of licensed school counselors.

Beginning in the 2017-2018 school year, the student-to-counselor ratio cannot exceed 400 kindergarten through grade 12 students per licensed school counselor.

A school district may exceed the 400-to-1 ratio by up to 20 percent in any single year, provided the five-year average does not exceed 400 students per counselor.

School districts are eligible to receive school counseling aid equal to a specified amount multiplied by the number of full-time equivalent licensed school counselors employed or contracted.

Unspecified amounts are appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of education for fiscal years 2018 and 2019 to fund school counseling aid.