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House Bill 3511HR 3511

Preparing for the Future Act

Health

24 pages

house

Bill Summary

Summary

Creates a federal grant program to pay eligible school psychology students and trainees up to $8,000 per year (subject to appropriations) in exchange for a service obligation: four years as a full‑time school psychologist in a qualifying Title I elementary or secondary school with a high student-to-psychologist ratio. Grants are limited to a lifetime cap of $16,000 for undergraduate/post‑baccalaureate support and $16,000 for graduate support; failure to complete the service obligation converts the award into a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan with interest. The program requires institutions and recipients to apply, meet eligibility standards, submit annual certifications, and follow procedures for reconsideration, reporting, and program oversight; funding begins January 1 of the year after enactment and is authorized at “such sums as may be necessary.”

Key Points

Creates a federal grant to subsidize school psychology students with up to $8,000 per year, subject to appropriations.
Grants are capped at $16,000 for undergraduate/post‑baccalaureate recipients and $16,000 for graduate recipients.
Recipients must serve at least four years as full‑time school psychologists in qualifying Title I schools within eight years of completing training.
Failure to meet the service obligation converts the grant into a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan with interest from the payment date.
Payments must be advanced at least 85% as prepayments to institutions unless alternative payment methods are adopted.
Program targets public or nonprofit private schools in LEAs eligible for Title I with a school psychologist‑to‑student ratio worse than 1:500.
The administering official must publish a searchable list of covered schools, set extenuating‑circumstance categories, and provide alternatives if a school will not cooperate.
Program funding is authorized beginning the January 1 following enactment at "such sums as may be necessary," but actual funding requires future appropriations.
Biennial reporting to Congress is required on participants, service locations/duration, changes in psychologist ratios, and impacts on student well‑being when practicable.

Pros & Cons

The bill offers targeted financial support and protections to grow the school psychologist workforce and expand student access to mental health services in high-need schools, but it creates funding uncertainty, enforceable service obligations, and possible debt or cash‑flow constraints that could deter participation or reduce flexibility for trainees.

Potential Benefits

5

Students training to become school psychologists receive up to $8,000 per year (maximum $16,000 total), lowering out-of-pocket education costs while they complete credentialing.
High-need local education agencies (LEAs) gain new school psychologist hires because recipients must serve four years in covered schools, helping alleviate local shortages.
Students in Title I–eligible and other prioritized districts gain increased access to school-based mental health supports through placement priorities (e.g., target ratios under 1:500).

Potential Drawbacks

5

Program funding is authorized as “such sums as may be necessary,” creating uncertainty about actual grant availability for prospective trainees and institutions.
Recipients who fail to complete the service obligation risk having their grant converted into an unsubsidized Stafford Loan that accrues interest from the original grant date, increasing borrower debt.
The four‑year service requirement and documentation deadlines may deter applicants or constrain early-career psychologists’ geographic or employer mobility.

AI Insights

Analyzed 2 of 2 sections

Categories & Tags

Agencies

Assistant Secretary (Administration)

Department of Education (Secretary of Education)

consumer reporting agencies (mentioned)

Subjects

Commemorative Designations

Workforce Development

Higher Education

K-12 Education

Mental Health & Substance Use

Affected Groups

Schools & Universities

Students

Teachers & Educators

Local Governments

+1 more

Sponsors (3)

Bill Summary

Summary

Creates a federal grant program to pay eligible school psychology students and trainees up to $8,000 per year (subject to appropriations) in exchange for a service obligation: four years as a full‑time school psychologist in a qualifying Title I elementary or secondary school with a high student-to-psychologist ratio. Grants are limited to a lifetime cap of $16,000 for undergraduate/post‑baccalaureate support and $16,000 for graduate support; failure to complete the service obligation converts the award into a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan with interest. The program requires institutions and recipients to apply, meet eligibility standards, submit annual certifications, and follow procedures for reconsideration, reporting, and program oversight; funding begins January 1 of the year after enactment and is authorized at “such sums as may be necessary.”

Key Points

Creates a federal grant to subsidize school psychology students with up to $8,000 per year, subject to appropriations.
Grants are capped at $16,000 for undergraduate/post‑baccalaureate recipients and $16,000 for graduate recipients.
Recipients must serve at least four years as full‑time school psychologists in qualifying Title I schools within eight years of completing training.
Failure to meet the service obligation converts the grant into a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan with interest from the payment date.
Payments must be advanced at least 85% as prepayments to institutions unless alternative payment methods are adopted.
Program targets public or nonprofit private schools in LEAs eligible for Title I with a school psychologist‑to‑student ratio worse than 1:500.
The administering official must publish a searchable list of covered schools, set extenuating‑circumstance categories, and provide alternatives if a school will not cooperate.
Program funding is authorized beginning the January 1 following enactment at "such sums as may be necessary," but actual funding requires future appropriations.
Biennial reporting to Congress is required on participants, service locations/duration, changes in psychologist ratios, and impacts on student well‑being when practicable.

Pros & Cons

The bill offers targeted financial support and protections to grow the school psychologist workforce and expand student access to mental health services in high-need schools, but it creates funding uncertainty, enforceable service obligations, and possible debt or cash‑flow constraints that could deter participation or reduce flexibility for trainees.

Potential Benefits

5

Students training to become school psychologists receive up to $8,000 per year (maximum $16,000 total), lowering out-of-pocket education costs while they complete credentialing.
High-need local education agencies (LEAs) gain new school psychologist hires because recipients must serve four years in covered schools, helping alleviate local shortages.
Students in Title I–eligible and other prioritized districts gain increased access to school-based mental health supports through placement priorities (e.g., target ratios under 1:500).

Potential Drawbacks

5

Program funding is authorized as “such sums as may be necessary,” creating uncertainty about actual grant availability for prospective trainees and institutions.
Recipients who fail to complete the service obligation risk having their grant converted into an unsubsidized Stafford Loan that accrues interest from the original grant date, increasing borrower debt.
The four‑year service requirement and documentation deadlines may deter applicants or constrain early-career psychologists’ geographic or employer mobility.

AI Insights

Analyzed 2 of 2 sections

Categories & Tags

Agencies

Assistant Secretary (Administration)

Department of Education (Secretary of Education)

consumer reporting agencies (mentioned)

Subjects

Commemorative Designations

Workforce Development

Higher Education

K-12 Education

Mental Health & Substance Use

Affected Groups

Schools & Universities

Students

Teachers & Educators

Local Governments

+1 more

All Legislation

House Bill 3511HR 3511

Preparing for the Future Act

Health

24 pages

house

senate

president

Introduced May 20, 2025 by Josh S. Gottheimer · Last progress May 20, 2025

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