The Expanding Access to Mental Health Services in Schools Act of 2025 would establish a federal grant program to help schools hire and retain mental health professionals such as counselors, psychologists, and social workers. Eligible recipients include high-need school districts and state education agencies—defined as those serving large numbers of low-income students and lacking adequate mental health staffing ratios—with competitive grants lasting up to five years. Schools receiving grants can use the funds to hire mental health providers, offer recruitment incentives like loan repayment and relocation assistance, and provide professional development to reduce staff turnover. The bill authorizes unspecified funding for fiscal years 2026 through 2030, requires grantees to contribute matching funds equal to 25 percent of project costs, and mandates annual reporting on the number of providers hired and student-to-provider ratios, with at least 50 percent of available funds directed to the highest-need districts.
Take Action
Your position
Add a comment
to comment on this bill.
Annotate the text
Highlight any passage on the Summary or Full Text tab to attach a note. Annotations appear on the Annotations tab.