Sponsors (21)
The bill expands access to evidence-based school mental health and trauma supports—especially in underserved and tribal communities—while improving training and evaluation, but it creates new federal spending, administrative and sustainability challenges for small districts, and may leave some schools without long-term funding after grant periods end.
Students — increased access to evidence-based trauma support and school-based mental health services through new competitive grants that connect schools with community mental health providers.
Teachers, school leaders, and school staff — funded professional development to better identify and respond to student trauma, improving classroom safety and learning environments.
Families and communities — grant programs require family and community engagement and coordination with mental health professionals, improving continuity of care for children receiving services.
Students and schools — five-year award limits and a competitive grant model mean some schools may not receive sustained funding after awards end, risking interruption of services.
Small and resource-limited districts — extensive application, reporting, interagency agreement, licensing, and evaluation requirements combined with only up to 2% reserved for administration could create implementation burdens that smaller districts struggle to meet.
Local and state budgets — the grant requirement that funds 'supplement, not supplant' existing spending may complicate local financing and force jurisdictions to maintain current funding levels to remain eligible.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes federal grants to connect schools and education agencies with community trauma‑informed and mental health systems to expand school-based trauma support, training, and services.
Authorizes federal grants (and contracts or cooperative agreements) to help schools, local and tribal education agencies, and community partners expand access to evidence-based trauma support and mental health services for students, teachers, school leaders, and other school staff. Grants may fund training, school-based services, collaborative referral and treatment systems with community providers, family and community engagement, and implementation of trauma-informed models such as positive behavioral interventions and supports. Awards may run up to five years. From amounts appropriated for the program, up to 3% may be reserved for evaluation and up to 2% for technical assistance and administration. The program updates existing law to authorize this targeted funding and emphasizes evidence-based practices and coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services, including provisions covering tribal education agencies served by Indian Health Service systems.
Introduced February 11, 2026 by Jahana Hayes · Last progress February 11, 2026