Counselor Shortage
Minnesota ranks 49th in the country in counselor to student ratios, with one counselor for every 800 students. Minnesota students deserve better. Students struggling with social, emotional, and behavioral difficulties often have trouble keeping up with their peers in school. Without the help of school counselors, teachers have to address the complicated challenges of these students on their own. This takes away from the time they can spend teaching. Moreover, it creates a bad environment for both teachers and students, and it does not provide struggling students with the support they need.
That's why Senator Franken cosponsored the Increased Student Achievement Through Increased Student Support Act. This bill would provide funding to train, place, and retain school counselors, social workers and psychologists in school districts that need them. Considering the critical shortage of these professionals throughout the state, Minnesota in particular stands to benefit from this initiative.
