Sponsors (124)
Introduced June 30, 2025 by Rosa L. Delauro · Last progress June 30, 2025
The bill expands and targets school-based mental health supports and workforce incentives for high‑need districts and increases transparency, but it relies on competitive grants, local matching funds, eligibility cutoffs, and consent/compliance rules that may delay implementation and leave many districts or students without immediate or equitable access.
Students in high-need school districts will gain increased access to school-based mental health professionals because the bill prioritizes funding, directs at least half of funds to high-need applications, and funds hiring, recruitment, and retention incentives.
State and local education agencies will have clearer eligibility rules and definitions (aligned with ESEA terms), which should reduce legal uncertainty and improve targeting and administration of grants.
Schools and students may see improved school climate and fewer behavioral disruptions because grants can fund evidence-based school-climate practices and related professional development.
Local education agencies—especially small, rural, or low‑income districts—may be unable to access or sustain services because the program requires a 25% non‑Federal match, reserves administrative funds and set‑asides that reduce LEA-available funds, and awards funding on a competitive basis.
Many students (and districts) may see no immediate increase in services because the bill creates opportunities and guidance rather than guaranteed, universal short‑term funding or service expansion.
LEAs just above eligibility cutoffs or small/rural districts with different staffing models risk exclusion because strict staffing-ratio criteria and the 15% cutoff can leave needy districts without aid; tying eligibility to ESEA/Interior definitions may also complicate and delay applications.
Based on analysis of 8 sections of legislative text.
Creates a competitive FY2026–FY2030 grant program to help high-need school districts recruit, hire, retain, and diversify school-based mental health providers with a 25% local match.
Creates a competitive federal grant program to help high-need school districts recruit, hire, retain, and diversify school-based mental health providers for K–12 students. Grants are funded for FY2026–FY2030, include priorities for high-quality applications from high-need LEAs, require a 25% non‑Federal match, and extend parental-consent and other student-protection rules already in federal education law to grant recipients.