Mental Health in Schools Excellence Program Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 3534
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Education
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-05-21: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-13T08:06:54Z
AI-Generated Summary
Mental Health in Schools Excellence Program Act of 2025 (H.R. 3534)
Purpose
This legislation aims to create a new federal program to boost the number of trained mental health professionals working in schools. It focuses on helping graduate students afford their education in fields like school psychology, counseling, and social work, with the goal of increasing recruitment and retention of these providers in school settings.
Key Provisions
- Program Authorization: The Secretary of Education (head of the U.S. Department of Education) will run the "Mental Health in Schools Excellence Program." Eligible graduate schools can partner with the Secretary to help pay for students' education costs in school-based mental health programs.
- Matching Contributions: Schools must contribute to students' costs (such as tuition and fees, known as "cost of attendance"). The Secretary will match up to 50% of those costs. Agreements between the Secretary and schools will detail how contributions are made (e.g., grants or scholarships), maximum amounts per student and per year, and the total number of students supported.
- Student Prioritization: Schools must prioritize students who, as undergraduates, received federal Pell Grants (need-based aid for low-income students) or attended historically Black colleges, tribal colleges, or other minority-serving institutions.
- Outreach Requirements: The Department of Education must maintain an online list of participating schools and their program details. It will also conduct outreach to eligible undergraduate students to encourage them to pursue these graduate programs.
- Definitions: Key terms include:
- Eligible graduate institution: A college or university offering accredited graduate degrees in school psychology, counseling, social work, or related fields that prepare students for state licensing or certification as school-based mental health providers.
- Participating student: A graduate student in one of these programs at a partner school.
- School-based mental health services provider: Professionals like counselors, psychologists, or social workers who provide mental health support directly in schools (as defined in existing education law).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces an entirely new program without directly amending prior laws. It builds on existing federal education frameworks, such as the Higher Education Act (which defines terms like cost of attendance and Pell Grants) and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (which defines school-based mental health providers). No existing programs are altered or replaced.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The Department of Education will need to allocate resources for administration, matching funds, and outreach, potentially increasing federal spending on higher education and mental health initiatives. This could strain budgets if demand grows.
- Citizens: Students in mental health graduate programs, especially from low-income or underrepresented backgrounds, may gain easier access to affordable education, leading to more diverse and qualified professionals in schools. Schoolchildren could benefit from improved mental health support, addressing issues like anxiety or trauma more effectively.
- International Relations: No direct impacts, as the program is focused on domestic education and workforce development.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Graduate Students and Trainees: Especially those pursuing careers in school counseling, psychology, social work, or related fields; low-income or minority students are prioritized.
- Educational Institutions: Accredited graduate schools offering relevant programs, which can partner for funding but must commit matching resources.
- Schools and Students: K-12 schools may see an influx of new mental health providers, improving services for children and teens.
- Federal Government: The Department of Education as the program administrator.
- Underrepresented Communities: Students from Pell Grant-eligible or minority-serving undergraduate institutions, promoting equity in the mental health workforce.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The program aligns with federal authority over education funding under the Spending Clause of the U.S. Constitution, allowing incentives for states and institutions without mandates. It emphasizes accredited, state-licensed programs, ensuring quality and compliance with professional standards.
- Constitutional: No apparent conflicts; it supports equal access to education without infringing on free speech, privacy, or other rights.
- Political: This could advance bipartisan priorities in mental health and education equity, especially post-pandemic, by addressing shortages in school support staff. It may spark debates on federal spending priorities or the balance between public-private partnerships in higher education, but it remains a targeted, non-controversial initiative focused on workforce development.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
Cosponsors (16)
Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1], Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9], Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6], Rep. Gillen, Laura [D-NY-4], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7], Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2], Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2], Rep. Gray, Adam [D-CA-13], Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6], Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large], Rep. Whitesides, George [D-CA-27], Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1], Rep. Tran, Derek [D-CA-45], Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2]
Recent Actions
- 2025-05-21: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2025-05-21: Introduced in House
- 2025-05-21: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Mental Health in Schools Excellence Program Act of 2025 — issued 2025-05-21 — PDF (6 pages)