Sponsors (4)
The bill increases access to and staffing of school social workers—likely improving student mental-health supports—at the cost of new federal spending, time-limited grants, and potential administrative and equity challenges for smaller districts.
K–12 students (especially in high-need districts) will gain greater access to school social workers, increasing counseling, crisis intervention, and mental-health supports.
Schools in funded districts can reach recommended school social worker staffing ratios (e.g., 1:250 or 1:50 in higher-risk schools), reducing caseloads and enabling more individualized support.
High-need local educational agencies receive multi-year grant funding (up to four years, renewable), providing short-to-medium-term stability to hire and retain school social workers.
Taxpayers face ongoing federal costs (about $100 million per year) and additional administrative spending for a national center and studies, with no guaranteed long-term funding after FY2030.
Smaller, rural, or under-resourced LEAs may struggle to apply for grants, meet matching or staffing requirements, and sustain positions once grant funding ends, limiting equitable benefit.
Grant funds are required to supplement, not supplant existing state/local funding, which can limit budget flexibility for LEAs and constrain how funds are used.
Based on analysis of 6 sections of legislative text.
Creates competitive grants and a national resource center to fund and support hiring/retaining CSWE‑trained school social workers, set staffing ratios, and build data/evidence; authorizes $100M/year FY2026–2030.
Introduced March 4, 2026 by Gwendolynne S. Moore · Last progress March 4, 2026
Creates a federal competitive grant program to help high-need school districts hire or retain credentialed school social workers and sets target staffing ratios (generally 1 social worker per 250 students; 1 per 50 in higher-risk schools). Grants last up to four years, must supplement existing funds, and are authorized at $100 million per year for FY2026–2030. The bill also creates a national resource center to evaluate programs, collect and share data and best practices, provide technical assistance, and support workforce development and higher education program study related to school social work.