SF133

The bill, SF No. 133, aims to modify existing laws regarding the funding and resource allocation for student support services in Minnesota schools. It proposes to broaden the possible uses of aid provided for these services. Specifically, the bill would allow schools to use the aid for not only hiring new student support staff or expanding the hours of existing part-time positions but also for making certain temporary positions permanent. These positions might have been initially funded by temporary federal aid programs like the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act and other related acts.

Additionally, if a school district or charter school struggles to hire new full-time positions due to insufficient applications, the bill allows them to use the aid to pay for contract services from qualified professionals, such as school counselors, psychologists, social workers, nurses, or chemical dependency counselors. This flexibility aims to ensure that schools can provide essential support services to students, fostering a supportive school environment.