A growing number of states are using government and philanthropic funds to bring more counselors into public schools.

The trend is outlined in a recent Education Week article by reporter Catherine Gewertz.

“The counseling initiatives are far from the biggest-ticket items in states’ budgets,” she writes. “But they’re a significant sign of a renewed commitment to school counseling, which took particularly heavy hits in layoffs driven by the Great Recession eight years ago.”

States highlighted in the article include:

• Minnesota: Committed $12 million to send counselors, social workers, nurses, and school psychologists into 77 schools.
• Tennessee: Added college advisers at 30 high schools through a three-year, $7.2 million grant.
• Colorado: Launched the Colorado School Counselor Corps in 2010 to add more support for students. The program was initially funded with $5 million annually for three years. The effort was renewed in 2014 at $10 million per year.
• Indiana: The Lily Endowment has pledged up to $30 million to help develop comprehensive counseling programs.

“People are realizing that a school counselor really is essential in a student’s education,” Richard Wong, executive director of the American School Counselor Association told Ed Week.

Read the full story, and learn about NACAC research showing that counselors positively impact college access.

Admitted writer/editor Mary Stegmeir welcomes additional comments and story ideas at mstegmeir@nacacnet.org.