; and (C) students to school social workers is 250 to 1. (11) A recent study revealed a national average ratio of 1,653 students per school psychologist, despite the 1:500–700 recommendation from the National Association of Social Psychologists. This deficit is further compounded by studies predicting a 2–4 percent shortage of school psychologists over the next 10 years due to retirement. In some schools, there are no school-based mental health and student service providers available to assist students in times of crisis, or at any other time. (12) Counselor-to-student ratios in 35 States exceed 1:400 despite recommendations from the American School Counselor Association for a 1:250 ratio. Only three States—Vermont, Wyoming & New Hampshire—meet the recommended ratio. This shortage occurs during a time when the National Center on Education Statistics forecasts that the Nation’s number of public school students (Pre-K to 12th) will grow by 7 percent between 2011 and 2022, particularly in States that already spend the least money per student. (13) Model programs using school-based mental health and student service providers have positive effects on emotional, behavioral and academic outcomes, such as reductions in aggressive and disruptive behavior, referrals to the principal’s office, the use of weapons, force, or threats, and increased students’ feelings of safety. Studies also find that mental health programs can have a range of positive outcomes across all grade levels, including gains in achievement test scores, grade point averages, course credit completion, as well as decreases in absences and substance use. 4132. Purposes The purposes of this subpart are to assist States and local educational agencies in hiring additional school-based mental health providers, including additional school counselors, school psychologists, other qualified psychologists, child and adolescent psychiatrists, and school social workers to achieve each of the following: (1) To reduce the ratios of school-based mental health and