City Education Department officials added 134 counselors and social workers to the public schools in the past 12 months, according to data the Education Department released Wednesday.
As of Oct. 31, 2016, there were 2,902 guidance counselors and 1,275 social workers in the city’s 1,800 public schools. That’s 4,177 staffers total, up from 4,043 a year ago.
The increase will give up to 13,400 more city students access to counseling and social services, Education officials said. Each counselor handles up to 100 kids.
Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña said the new counselors and social workers are making a difference in kids’ lives.
“Ensuring students have the social-emotional supports they need to succeed in the classroom and beyond is critical,” she said.
The Department of Education reported the data under a City Council mandate.
City schools made many of the new hires under the Single Shepherd program, in which counselors follow students from grades 6 to 12 to make sure they finish high school and enroll in college.
South Bronx Preparatory Principal Ellen Flanagan said she’s already seeing results from adding three Single Shepherd counselors to her school in September.
“It gives us a chance to meet the needs of every kid,” said Flanagan. “They make calls to make sure kids wake up. They get kids through the door.”
