Sponsors (22)
The bill would expand trauma-informed mental health services, training, and equitable school–community partnerships with evaluation to build evidence, but it increases federal spending and includes time limits, administrative set-asides, and compliance requirements that may reduce flexibility, continuity, and access for smaller districts.
Students in participating schools will gain increased access to evidence-based trauma supports and school-based mental health services through new grants connecting schools with community providers.
Teachers, school leaders, and school staff will receive funded professional development to recognize and respond to trauma, improving classroom safety and learning environments.
Parents, families, and communities — including tribal, rural, urban, and suburban areas — will benefit from stronger school–community partnerships (including Indian Health Service and tribal agencies) and equitable grant distribution that improves coordinated referrals and continuity of care.
Taxpayers will fund the program at up to $50 million per year (2027–2031), increasing federal spending and competing with other budget priorities.
Students and schools risk service disruption after grants end because funding is limited to five-year awards, which may not sustain longer-term programs without follow-on funding.
Smaller districts, local governments, and community providers may be deterred from applying due to extensive application, partnership, licensing, and reporting requirements, limiting access for communities with less administrative capacity.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes federal grants and agreements to expand evidence-based trauma-informed and school mental-health supports, with set reserves for evaluation and technical assistance and five-year award limits.
Authorizes the Department of Education, working with HHS, to make grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements to expand evidence-based trauma-informed and school mental-health services for students, teachers, school leaders, and school staff. Sets program rules: reserves up to 3% of funds for evaluation and up to 2% for technical assistance and administration, limits awards to five years, and requires recipients to use funds for specified trauma-informed activities such as partnerships with community mental health systems, professional development, and trauma‑informed support models.
Introduced February 11, 2026 by Jahana Hayes · Last progress February 11, 2026