Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act

More school mental health funding

If enacted, this bill would create a Department of Education grant program to expand school-based mental health staff in high-need public schools. It would authorize $5 billion for fiscal year 2027 and "such sums as may be necessary" in later years. The Secretary would reserve 0.5% for Bureau of Indian Education schools, 0.5% for outlying areas, and up to 2% for administration and technical help. States would get five-year allotments based on Title I shares, must provide a 20% match, and could combine these funds with State or local money. States would award competitive subgrants to districts to hire or contract with licensed counselors, psychologists, social workers, and other qualified mental health providers and to work toward staffing targets (250 students per counselor, 500 per psychologist, 250 per social worker). LEAs and States would file yearly reports on activities, provider counts, and student-to-provider ratios, and the Department would publish State reports and send them to the relevant congressional committees. Grant funds would be required to supplement, not supplant, existing school-based mental health funds.