MN SF862

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

Establishes a maximum student-to-counselor ratio of 400 kindergarten through grade 12 students per licensed school counselor beginning in the 2017-2018 school year, with allowance to exceed by up to 20 percent in any single year if the five-year average does not exceed 400:1.

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

Appropriates unspecified amounts from the general fund to the commissioner of education for fiscal years 2018 and 2019 to support school counseling aid.