Across Minnesota, the ratio of 759 students to each counselor in grades K-12 ranks among the worst in the nation — 49th, ahead of only California. The American School Counselor Association recommends a 250-to-1 ratio; the national average is 457 students per counselor. Lagging state funding is blamed for the shortage in Minnesota.

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The four counselors will do traditional one-on-one work with students, helping them cope with issues from family divorce and homelessness to bullying and building friendships.

I had no idea this was a problem in Minnesota. Glad that at least one district is getting funding to improve the situation.

The fund was designed to support local efforts to start or grow innovative programs proven to help close the achievement gap. …Ninth-grade is considered a make-or-break year for high school students. Research has shown that students who fail a class during their freshmen year are much more likely to drop out and struggle as they enter adulthood, school officials say.