Governor's Blog

Dayton-Smith Administration Announces Grants to Fund School Counselors and Student Support Staff at 77 Schools

11/18/2016 10:29:39 AM

Minnesota currently ranks 47th in the United States for access to school counselors

Funding secured by Dayton-Smith Administration will help address Minnesota’s shortage of student support staff

ST. PAUL, MN – During the 2016 Legislative Session, Governor Mark Dayton and Lt. Governor Tina Smith worked with the Minnesota Legislature to secure a $12 million investment for school support staff. The new resources are now helping 77 schools across Minnesota add school counselors, school psychologists, social workers, chemical dependency counselors, and school nurses for the next six years. The additional counselors and other support staff will begin to alleviate Minnesota’s shortage of student support personnel.

“School counselors and other support staff help guide Minnesota students throughout their academic careers. Expanding access to this critical guidance will leave our students better prepared for college and careers,” said Governor Dayton. “I thank the Legislature for their support of this initiative during the 2016 Session. I hope we can expand upon it next year.”

The $12 million investment will be distributed as grants to 37 school districts, funding 40 school counselors, 21 school social workers, 7 chemical dependency counselors, 6 school psychologists, and 3 school nurses.

“Minnesota ranks nearly last in the United States – providing only 1 counselor for every 792 students. That’s more than three times the recommended ratio,” said Lt. Governor Smith. “These grants will help more Minnesota students receive the support they need for success in school and life. We must continue to build on these efforts so all Minnesota children receive the assistance they need.”

Of the 77 schools receiving funds, 40 are non-metro schools and 37 are in the metro area. More than 100 school sites applied for funding. Priority was given to school sites in which student support services personnel positions do not currently exist.

“I was proud to author this important provision that will benefit Minnesota students and schools across the state,” said Senator Susan Kent, who chief-authored the provision in the Minnesota Senate. “These new positions will provide crucial support to our students, helping to improve attendance, address physical and mental health, guide students in preparing for career and college, and reach graduation.”

Districts applying for funds are required to match the state funds dollar for dollar for the first four years of the grant, extending the impact of the state’s investment. School districts will match $3 for every state dollar in the fifth and sixth year of the grant.

“Minnesota spends about half the national average on student support services, according to a MPR analysis of U.S. Census Bureau’s annual survey of school finances. That means about 2.6 percent of education funding is directed at support services in schools, while the national average is 5.5 percent,” said State Rep. Alice Hausman, who chief-authored the provision in the Minnesota House. “My provision will help Minnesota catch up to the rest of the nation by making investments in school counselors, psychologists, social workers, nurses or chemical dependency counselors that directly impact the success of our students.”

See below for a list of schools awarded grant funding and for what positions.

District	School	Position	Full or Part time
Alexandria Public Schools	Lincoln Elementary School	School Social Worker	Part-time
Alexandria Public Schools	Alexandria Area High School	School Social Worker	Part-time
Becker Public Schools	Becker Primary	School Social Worker	Full-time
Becker Public Schools	Becker Intermediate School	School Social Worker	Full-time
Columbia Heights Public Schools	Columbia Academy	School Social Worker	Full-time
Cornerstone Montessori Elementary	Cornerstone Montessori Elementary	School Psychologist	Part-time
East Range Academy of Technology and Science	East Range Academy of Technology and Science	School Nurse	Part-time
East Range Academy of Technology and Science	East Range Academy of Technology and Science	School Counselor	Full-time
Fridley Public Schools	Hayes Elementary	School Social Worker	Full-time
Fridley Public Schools	Fridley High School	School Social Worker	Full-time
Fridley Public Schools	Fridley Middle School	School Social Worker	Full-time
Fridley Public Schools	Stevenson Elementary	School Social Worker	Full-time
Fridley Public Schools – ALC	Fridley ALC	School Social Worker	Full-time
Grand Rapids Public Schools	Cohasset Elementary	School Counselor	Full-time
Grand Rapids Public Schools	Grand Rapids High School	School Counselor	Full-time
Grand Rapids Public Schools	Murphy Elementary	School Counselor	Full-time
Grand Rapids Public Schools-ALC	Area Learning Center	School Social Worker	Part-time
Harvest Preparatory School	Harvest Preparatory	School Psychologist	Full-time
Howard Lake Waverly Winsted	Winsted Elementary	School Counselor	Part-time
Howard Lake Waverly Winsted	Humphrey Elementary	School Counselor	Part-time
Intermediate SD 287	EEC Special Education	Chemical Dependency Counselor	Part-time
Intermediate SD 287	NEC Special Education	Chemical Dependency Counselor	Part-time
Intermediate SD 287	WEC Special Education	Chemical Dependency Counselor	Part-time
Inver Grove Heights	Simley High School	School Social Worker	Full-time
Kenyon Wanamingo	Kenyon Wanamingo Middle School	School Counselor	Full-time
Madelia Public Schools	Madelia Elementary	School Social Worker	Full-time
Mankato Public Schools	Prairie Winds Middle School	School Counselor	Full-time
Marshall Public Schools	Park Side Elementary	School Counselor	Full-time
Minneapolis Schools	Elizabeth Hall International	School Counselor	Full-time
Minneapolis Schools	Harrison Education Center	Chemical Dependency Counselor	Part-time
Minneapolis Schools	Nellie Stone Johnson Community	School Counselor	Full-time
Minneapolis Schools	River Bend	Chemical Dependency Counselor	Part-time
Minneapolis Schools	Richard R. Green Central Park	School Counselor	Full-time
Minneapolis Schools	Sheridan Arts Dual Spanish Immersion	School Counselor	Full-time
Minnesota Online High School	Minnesota Online High School	School Social Worker	Full-time
Minnesota River Valley Education District	Minnesota Valley Area Learning Center	Social Worker	Full-time
North Branch Public Schools	North Branch Area High School	School Social Worker	Full-time
Princeton Public Schools	Princeton ALC in HS	School Counselor	Part-time
Princeton Public Schools	Educational Options	School Counselor	Part-time
Princeton Public Schools	Online Academy	School Counselor	Part-time
Red Wing Public Schools	Red Wing High School	School Counselor	Part-time
Red Wing Public Schools	Twin Bluff Middle School	School Counselor	Part-time
Rochester Public Schools	Rochester Alternative Learning Center	Chemical Dependency Counselor	Full-time
Rochester Public Schools	George W. Gibbs Jr. Elementary	School Counselor	Full-time
Rochester Public Schools	John Marshall High School	Chemical Dependency Counselor	Full-time
Rochester Public Schools	Sunset Terrace Elementary	School Counselor	Full-time
Rothsay Public Schools	Rothsay Schools	School Counselor	Full-time
Rush City Public Schools	CE Jacobson Elementary	School Counselor	Full-time
Sauk Rapids-Rice Public Schools	Pleasantville Elementary	School Social Worker	Full-time
Shakopee Public Schools	Tokata Learning Center	School Nurse	Full-time
Southwest Metro Intermediate	Southwest Metro High School	School Counselor	Full-time
Southwest Metro Intermediate	River Valley ED Center	School Psychologist	Full-time
Southwest Metro Intermediate	Shakopee Town Square	School Nurse	Full-time
St. Paul Public Schools	Humboldt Secondary School	School Counselor	Full-time
St. Paul Public Schools	Creative Arts Secondary	School Counselor	Full-time
St. Paul Public Schools	Highland Park Senior High School	School Counselor	Part-time
St. Paul Public Schools	Washington Tech Magnet Schools	School Social Worker	Full-time
St. Louis Park Public Schools	St. Louis Park Middle School	School Counselor	Full-time
St. Michael-Albertville Public Schools	Fieldstone Elementary	School Counselor	Part-time
St. Michael-Albertville Public Schools	Big Woods Elementary	School Counselor	Part-time
Tri-City United	TCU Le Center K-8	School Counselor	Part-time
Tri-City United	TCU Montgomery K-8 School	School Counselor	Part-time
Upper Mississippi Academy	Upper Mississippi Academy	School Counselor	Part-time
Waseca Public Schools	Area Learning Center	School Social Worker	Part-time
West St. Paul, Mendota Heights, Eagan	Moreland Arts and Health Sciences	School Counselor	Part-time
West St. Paul, Mendota Heights, Eagan	Mendota Elementary	School Counselor	Part-time
West St. Paul, Mendota Heights, Eagan	Pilot Knob STEM	School Counselor	Part-time
West St. Paul, Mendota Heights, Eagan	Garlough Elementary Magnet	School Counselor	Part-time
West St. Paul, Mendota Heights, Eagan	Heritage E-STEM Magnet	School Counselor	Part-time
West St. Paul, Mendota Heights, Eagan	Friendly Hills Middle School	School Counselor	Part-time
West St. Paul, Mendota Heights, Eagan	Somerset Elementary	School Counselor	Part-time
White Bear Lake Public Schools	White Bear Lake High School South and North Campus	School Counselor	Full-time
Winona Public Schools	Winona Middle School	School Social Worker	Full-time
Worthington Public Schools	Prairie Elementary	School Psychologist	Part-time
Worthington Public Schools	Worthington Area Learning Center	School Social Worker	Full-time
Worthington Public Schools	Worthington High School	School Psychologist	Part-time
Worthington Public Schools	Worthington Middle School	School Psychologist	Part-time

Education and Workforce

Human Rights

Health

Disabilities

Back to List