School Social Workers Improving Student Success Act
Sponsored By: Representative Moore (WI)
Introduced
Summary
Expands school social work staffing to meet recommended ratios. This bill would create a federal grant program and a national technical assistance center to help high-need schools recruit, retain, and deploy school social workers.
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- Students and families would get more access to counseling, crisis intervention, trauma-informed care, and help with barriers like homelessness and food insecurity, aiming for at least 1 school social worker per 250 students and 1 per 50 for students with intensive needs.
- High-need local educational agencies would be eligible for grants lasting up to 4 years to retain or hire school social workers, reimburse travel and supervision costs, and, only when necessary, hire contractors to meet staffing ratios.
- A new national technical assistance center would collect and share data, provide training and statewide or tribal strategies, and study social work programs to improve recruitment and retention. The bill would define school social workers as individuals with a master’s in social work from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)-accredited program.
*Would authorize $100 million per year for FY2026–2030 to fund grants and the national center, increasing federal spending by up to $100 million annually.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Grants to hire school social workers
If enacted, the bill would create grants to help high-need school districts hire and keep school social workers. The program would authorize $100 million per year for FY2026 through FY2030. Grants last up to four years and must add to, not replace, other Federal, State, or local funds. Grant money would help districts reach at least one social worker per 250 students and, in majority higher-risk schools, pay to reach one per 50 students. Contractors could be used only after strong recruitment fails, and any contractor must meet the law's credential rules. Funded social workers would provide counseling, crisis help, case management, home visits, and work to remove barriers like homelessness, transportation, and food insecurity. Districts could get technical help applying and must report progress to renew grants.
National center for school social work
If enacted, the Department of Education would create a national technical assistance center focused on school social work. The center would collect and share data on staffing ratios and program outcomes. It would study social work training, help States, tribes, colleges, and districts build workforce plans, and provide training and technical help.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Moore (WI)
WI • D
Cosponsors
Scholten
MI • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Garcia (TX)
TX • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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