The U.S. Department of Education has awarded $14.7 million in grants to establish or expand school counseling programs in 40 districts in 20 states, the federal agency announced last week.
The grants aim to expand the range, quality, and availability of counseling services in elementary and secondary schools, and programs will be designed with input from parents of students who will benefit from the programs, the Education Department said.
National groups, including the American Counseling Association, have called for more counselors in schools. In the 2011-12 school year, there was one school counselor for every 470 students in the United States.
