The Mental Health Excellence in Schools Act establishes a federal matching grant program to help graduate students afford training in school-based mental health professions like school psychology, school counseling, and school social work. Participating graduate institutions can contribute toward students' tuition costs, which the federal government will match dollar-for-dollar up to 50 percent of attendance costs, with priority given to students who previously received Pell Grants or attended historically underrepresented institutions. The bill aims to increase the number of qualified mental health professionals working in schools by reducing the financial burden of graduate education in these fields. Funding would begin at $20 million in fiscal year 2026 and rise to $50 million annually from 2028 through 2030. The program requires annual reporting on student numbers and outcomes, with an independent national evaluation due within four years of the law's enactment.
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