Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act
Sponsored By: Senator Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced
Summary
Expands access to school-based mental health services. This bill would create a federal grant program that funds States to subgrant local school districts so they can hire or contract for counselors, psychologists, and social workers in high-need public elementary and secondary schools.
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- Students and families: Students in high-need schools would get more in-school mental health support, aiming for staffing goals such as about 250 students per counselor and 500 per psychologist.
- Local educational agencies: Districts would compete for subgrants to recruit or retain providers or to contract with community mental health centers, with priority for those serving many high-need schools.
- States and oversight: States would receive formula grants tied to Title I shares, get five-year allotments, must provide a 20 percent match, and must report provider counts and progress toward staffing goals.
*Would authorize at least $5.0 billion for fiscal year 2027 and allow ongoing funding thereafter, increasing federal spending for school-based mental health services.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Federal funding and State allocation rules
If enacted, the bill would authorize $5 billion for fiscal year 2027 and such sums as may be necessary later. The Department would split funds to States using each State's share of Title I, Part A, and no State would get less than 0.5% of the total. From each year's total, 0.5% would be reserved for Bureau of Indian Education activities, 0.5% for outlying areas, and up to 2% for administration and technical help. States would get five-year allotments, must provide a 20% match on grant amounts, and could only renew an allotment after showing progress to the Secretary.
More mental health staff in high-need schools
If enacted, the bill would create competitive subgrants to local school districts to hire and keep school-based mental health staff. Subgrants would pay for recruiting, retention, and contracting with community mental health centers for high-need public schools. The program would aim for staffing goals of 250 students per school counselor, 500 per school psychologist, and 250 per school social worker. Local districts that get subgrants would have to file yearly reports listing activities funded and how many mental health staff were supported, by provider type.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
OR • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
CO • D
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
CT • D
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
NJ • D
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
DE • D
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
IL • D
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Sen. Fetterman, John [D-PA]
PA • D
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]
NM • D
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
HI • D
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]
VA • D
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]
ME • I
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
MN • D
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]
CT • D
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
RI • D
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
NH • D
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]
MN • D
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
MD • D
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
OR • D
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
NY • D
Sponsored 6/22/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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