HR4253-119

What This Bill Does

The Expanding Access to Mental Health Services in Schools Act creates a federal grant program to increase school-based mental health professionals in high-need local educational agencies. Eligible agencies include high-need LEAs, educational service agencies acting for high-need LEAs, and state educational agencies. A high-need LEA must be in the highest 15 percent of the state by number or percentage of children counted under Title I and must miss at least two staffing ratios: 1 counselor per 250 students, 1 psychologist per 500 students, and 1 social worker per 250 students. Grants last up to five years and may be renewed for up to two years; ED must reserve up to 2 percent for administration, technical assistance, and data collection, 1 percent for Bureau of Indian Education schools, and 1 percent for outlying areas. At least 50 percent of remaining funds must go to high-quality applications from high-need LEAs. Grant uses include hiring providers, evidence-based school-climate practices, salary stipends, relocation benefits, student loan repayment, retention incentives, professional development, induction, mentorship, and peer support. Recipients must provide at least a 25 percent nonfederal match, supplement rather than supplant existing funds, and comply with FERPA, IDEA, and ESEA section 4001 rules.

Who Benefits and How

Students in high-need school districts benefit because grants can hire more school counselors, psychologists, social workers, and other mental health providers. High-need local educational agencies benefit from competitive grants targeted at staffing shortages and provider diversity. Bureau of Indian Education schools benefit from a dedicated 1 percent reservation for the grant program. School-based mental health providers benefit from salary stipends, relocation benefits, student loan repayment, professional development, mentorship, and retention supports.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The Department of Education must run the grant competition, reservations, technical assistance, data collection, and compliance oversight. State educational agencies applying for grants must document student mental health needs, provider shortages, hiring plans, and legal compliance. Grant recipients must contribute at least a 25 percent nonfederal match and avoid supplanting existing funds. Federal taxpayers fund the program through such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

Key Provisions

• Creates a competitive school-based mental health services grant program for eligible high-need education agencies.
• Defines high-need local educational agencies using Title I child counts and counselor, psychologist, and social-worker staffing ratios.
• Requires grant uses to support hiring, recruiting, retaining, diversifying, training, mentoring, and supporting school-based mental health providers.
• Reserves funds for administration, Bureau of Indian Education schools, outlying areas, and high-quality high-need LEA applications while requiring a 25 percent nonfederal match.