Purpose

This bill updates Minnesota law to strengthen and formalize the role of school counselors in K-12 schools. It aims to ensure students receive proactive guidance and support for academics, social and emotional development, and preparation for college or career, while also focusing on mental health and equitable access to resources.

Key provisions

• Minimum presence of counselors: Encourages school districts to maintain an adequate student-to-counselor ratio and establishes a minimum of one school counselor in every kindergarten through 12th-grade (K-12) school building.
• Collaboration: Encourages school leaders to work with counselors to identify needs, prioritize high-impact strategies, and involve other educators in the comprehensive school counseling curriculum.
• Student planning and transitions: Counselors must help students meet graduation requirements, explore and plan for college and career options, assist with college affordability planning, and support successful transitions to postsecondary education or training.
• Counseling programs: Requires preventive and developmentally appropriate counseling programs that support academic, social and emotional development, and postsecondary/career development for all students.
• Time allocation: Requires counselors to spend at least 80% of their working time delivering direct multitiered services to students.

Main provisions (services and activities)

Counselors must, as part of their roles, engage in: 1) Individual student planning and goal setting for academics, career, and postsecondary paths. 2) Classroom instruction in academic development, social and emotional development, and postsecondary/career development. 3) Instruction that promotes mental health awareness and healthy behaviors. 4) Short-term individual and small group counseling. 5) Crisis intervention related to mental health or other difficult transitions (e.g., grief, loss). 6) Referrals to appropriate school and community resources for ongoing support for mental health issues (including suicidal ideation, violence, abuse, anxiety, depression) to remove barriers to learning. 7) Collaboration with families, teachers, other support personnel, administrators, staff, and community members to support student achievement and success. 8) Data collection and analysis to identify successes, needs, or challenges and set goals to close gaps in achievement, opportunity, or accessibility. 9) Acting as a systems change agent to promote environments that support student success, including equitable enrollment patterns and access.

Licensure requirement

• Minimum credential: A school counselor must hold an appropriate license issued by the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB).

Implementation and practical impact

• The bill formalizes expectations for school counselors, expanding their duties beyond classroom guidance to include data-driven planning, crisis response, and system-level advocacy for equity.
• It emphasizes mental health emphasis and proactive prevention, along with stronger ties to families and the broader community.
• Schools may need to verify licensing and ensure staffing levels meet the minimum expectation of one counselor per building, with a focus on dedicating most counselor time to direct student services.

Potential implementation considerations

• Budget and staffing: districts may need to hire additional counselors or reallocate staff to meet the 80% direct-service requirement and the minimum counselor per building.
• Training and data systems: schools may need to develop or enhance data collection and analysis processes to monitor student needs and track progress toward goals.
• Collaboration: increased emphasis on cross-stakeholder collaboration (families, teachers, administrators, community partners) may require new or expanded partnerships and communication channels.

Compliance status

• Licensed professionals: All school counselors would need an appropriate license from PELSB to be employed under this framework.

Relevant Terms - school counselor - student-to-counselor ratio - K-12 - comprehensive school counseling curriculum - multitiered services - direct services - academic development - social and emotional development - postsecondary development - career development - mental health - crisis intervention - suicidal ideation - referrals - data collection and analysis - equity and access - systems change agent - enrollment patterns - licensing - Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board - collaboration with families and teachers