Sponsors (5)
The bill expands access to school social workers and builds capacity and evidence to improve student mental-health supports—particularly in high-need districts—but requires new federal spending, competitive grant distribution, workforce credentialing, and added administrative requirements that may leave some districts behind or strain local capacity.
Students in K–12, especially in high-need districts, would get greater access to school social workers and improved mental health, counseling, and crisis-intervention supports, which can improve attendance and safety.
High-need LEAs receive dedicated federal funding ($100M/year, 2026–2030) and competitive grants to hire and retain school social workers, reducing reliance on local budgets.
LEAs and states get grants, technical assistance, training, and data resources to build capacity to hire/retain social workers and implement services, helping districts with limited grant-writing or implementation capacity.
Federal taxpayers face increased spending to fund grants and a national center (roughly $100M/year plus center costs), which diverts federal resources from other priorities.
Because funds are distributed through competitive grants, some high-need LEAs may not win awards and could be left without additional support, producing uneven access across districts.
Grant conditions (e.g., supplement-not-supplant rules) and new reporting/accounting requirements increase administrative burden for LEAs, which may strain already-limited district staff and resources.
Based on analysis of 6 sections of legislative text.
Creates a competitive grant program and national resource center to recruit, retain, and expand school social workers, authorizing $100M/year for 2026–2030 and setting staffing ratio goals.
Official title: To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to provide grants to hire and retain school social workers, and for other purposes.
Introduced March 4, 2026 by Gwendolynne S. Moore · Last progress March 4, 2026
Creates a new competitive grant program to help high-need local educational agencies hire and retain school social workers and sets a target staffing ratio (generally 1 social worker per 250 students, 1:50 in higher-risk majority schools). Authorizes $100 million per year for fiscal years 2026–2030 for grants of up to four years that must supplement, not supplant, existing funds and requires grantees to provide a set of direct services. Requires the Department of Education to stand up a national resource center to evaluate and share best practices, collect workforce and outcomes data, develop statewide and tribal workforce strategies, and provide technical assistance to support hiring and retention of school social workers. Defines “school social worker” by degree and credential requirements and ties eligibility to the Higher Education Act definition of high-need LEAs.