require schools to hire a trained professional “Mental Health Advocate” to aid in finding outside help for children

experiencing mental distress, with an emphasis on female mental health services, and subsidized by the State for Section

V families.

 

The purpose of this bill is to promote better mental health resources for students having mental health challenges and

ensure that they have the proper assistance in managing their needs.

Currently, Special Education in school districts focuses on learning challenges and not students with mental health

challenges. It is difficult for gifted students or those with high test scores and GPAs to qualify for Special Ed, and

if they do, the Special Education teachers do not have the experience or training to work with these students to provide

support and tools to manage anxiety, depression, and behavioral challenges. Sadly, management falls on the parents and

is challenging because parents are not at school to provide support and are not mental health professionals. They do not

have first-hand knowledge of events or student experiences. School interaction is often reactive after a student acts

out, is consistently bullied, or experiences a challenge with schoolwork and socialization.

Schools do have qualified psychologists, but most have high caseloads with their focus on Special Education and not

preventative measures. These psychologists are typically not seen by students as advocates. Many students know their

School Resource Officer (SRO) but do not know their school psychologists. SROs are often utilized in schools for mental

health challenges, but do not have mental health expertise or training. This has caused a history of unnecessary

escalation in some school environments and inappropriate actions such as this incident in South Carolina, where a school

resource officer was charged and sentenced with sexual battery after harming a student.

https://www.foxcarolina.com/2025/11/12/former-anderson-co-school-resource-officer-sentenced-sexual-battery-with-student/

 

According to the 2022 Minnesota Student Survey, which interviews 5th, 8th, 9th, and 11th grade students, 29% of students

reported long-term mental health problems compared to 23% in 2019. 45% of female students reported long-term mental

health problems. An average of 30% of students felt that they had someone at school to talk with. Many statistics show

that female students have significantly higher rates of mental health issues.19% of female 11th graders reported

attempting suicide in 2022, compared to 10% of male 11th graders.

According to the Minnesota Department of Education, 12.6% of 6th, 9th, and 12th grade students were classified as

victims of bullying. Bullying is linked to many mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, and suicidal

ideation. The state of Minnesota does not have a formal anti-bullying or mental health campaign for schools at this

time, and part of the work required by these professionals is to review and recommend these options by 2028 to be

included in all schools by 2030.

This position will travel within schools in a district and will provide monthly seminars and webinars on managing mental

health and bullying.

 

1. “Mental Health” shall be defined as the mental state of the individual in question.

2. “Services” and “assistance” shall be defined as the necessary people or organizations required for the individual to

remain in control of their own mental health.

3. “Challenges” shall be defined as any internal or external factor that prevents the individual from maintaining their

mental health.

4. “PII” shall be defined as Personally Identifiable Information, or any information that can pinpoint the identity of

an individual, either by itself or with other identifiers.

5. “PHI” shall be defined as Protected Health Information, or any information that is considered protected under the

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

6. “SRO” shall be defined as a school resource officer.

 

The funding for this bill will be obtained from a 0.045822% tax on alcohol, tobacco, firearms, and Cannabis products

with projected sales of at least $1,000,000,000, and tax of $45,830,000.

Mental Health Advocate Funding

The estimated average cost of a school psychologist salary in Minnesota is $86,930 without benefits, and $108,663 with

benefits. The estimated cost for this new position if all 331 Minnesota school districts is $35,967,453.

Discretionary Funding

Each school will also receive $5,000 for a total of $1,655,000 discretionary funding to provide office space, supplies,

travel to meetings, and to administer the position. Schools are required to provide an annual account of expenses

related to the position by July 1. See SECTION V – PENALTIES/ENFORCEMENT.

Mental Health Subsidy Costs for Families on Title V

Title V will pay for up to 20 annual visits in a calendar year to a student eligible for Title V for visits with an

outside professional for those who do not have insurance to pay for these costs. Approximate cost of a pediatric

psychologist in Minnesota is $200/appointment, for a total of $4,000 per Title V student. Of the nearly 1 million

children attending K-12 in Minnesota, we estimate about 2000 are utilizing this program and requiring Title V support,

for a total of $8,000,000.

Non-PHI data will be reported to the State of Minnesota Department Children, Youth, and Family (DCYF). Specific

information will not be shared with the school unless the student has intentions to harm themselves or someone at the

school.

Administrative Costs

We expect an estimated $200,000 for DCYF to administer this program and have chosen DCYF in place of the Minnesota

Department of Education due to DCYF expertise working with programs related to children’s mental health.

Total Annual Program Budget and Expenses are:

Budget: ($1,000,000,000 @ 0.045822%) = $45,830,000

Expenses:

Mental Health Advocate: $(35,967,453)

Discretionary Funding: (1,655,000)

Title V Support: (8,000,000)

DCYF Administration: (200,000)

Total: $45,822,453

Under/(Over Budget): $7,547

 

All schools will be expected to have a trained professional with a license in psychology and school counseling

experience who can assist students with their mental health and is capable of finding other outside help if needed, for

diagnosis and treatment outside of the school. Government subsidies for external school providers will be available for

Title V families who apply.

Schools who do not provide a trained professional will be penalized the cost of the professional every month they do not

have a professional.

Schools will submit a monthly report by the 15th of the following month including the number of students served and a

high-level description of each student’s age, grade, gender, race, and need, excluding PHI/PII such as name and date of

birth. The benefit of this information is to learn more about student populations for study purposes to assess student

needs and improve the program. Students who have high test scores and GPAs will still be able to have assistance if

requested.

Schools will provide an annual report by July 1 each year accounting expenses related to this position with expenses

limited to salary, space, travel to regional or state meetings for the position, supplies related to supporting students

utilizing the position.

 

This bill will take effect on January 1st, 2027.

All schools must hire a professional by August 1, 2027, with the professional participating in the 2027/2028 school

year.

Student information obtained by these professionals will be managed as PII/PHI in accordance with current information

sharing laws.

If this bill is approved, there may still be negotiations with the Minnesota teacher’s union.