The state of Kansas doesn’t require elementary schools to have a School Counselor on staff and therefore doesn’t budget for one.

However, a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Mental Health Surveillance Among Children —United States, 2005–2011 shares some staggering statistical data of the percentage of children experiencing mental health challenges:

Children aged 3-17 years currently had:

When you apply this data to Prairie, of the 419 students enrolled:

Having a certified School Counselor on staff means there is dedicated personnel providing support to these students. This benefits other students in the class by “freeing up the teacher” to focus more on the whole class rather than spending extra time with 1-2 students.

Additional benefits of having a School Counselor:

Research cited here.