Sponsors (16)
The bill makes graduate training for school mental health more affordable and better aligned with licensure—especially for targeted low-income students—but its impact is limited by participation caps, institutional exclusions and controls, added administrative burdens, and increased federal spending.
Graduate students in eligible mental-health-related programs receive up to 50% matching funds toward their cost of attendance, reducing out-of-pocket tuition and likely lowering student debt for participants.
Students and K–12 schools benefit from a stronger pipeline of credentialed school mental health providers because the program subsidizes graduate training and aligns programs with State licensure/certification requirements, making districts more able to hire qualified staff.
Students gain clearer access to the program because the bill defines eligible institutions, covered fields, and 'cost of attendance,' which makes program participation and application requirements more transparent.
Many eligible students may still not receive aid because per-student, per-year caps and institution participant caps — together with statutory exclusions of some institutions — limit the program's reach.
The program requires federal appropriations to fund Secretary contributions, increasing federal spending and potential costs for taxpayers.
Institutions retain control over selecting participants and setting contribution amounts, which could produce uneven access, favoritism, or inconsistent benefits across schools and students.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Creates a Department of Education matching program where eligible graduate institutions and the federal government together cover up to 50% of a participating student's cost of attendance to train school-based mental health providers.
Introduced May 21, 2025 by Brian K. Fitzpatrick · Last progress May 21, 2025
Creates a federal matching program to help graduate students in school-based mental health training pay their cost of attendance. Eligible graduate institutions agree to contribute funds for a participating student and the Department of Education will match those contributions, together covering up to 50% of the student’s cost of attendance under limits set by agreement. Institutions must prioritize certain students, the Department must publish participating institutions online, and the program covers graduate programs that train school counselors, school social workers, school psychologists, and related school-based mental health fields.