Expanding Access to Mental Health Services in Schools Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 4253

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Education

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-06-30: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Last Updated

2026-06-30T08:06:23Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The Expanding Access to Mental Health Services in Schools Act of 2025 aims to increase the number of mental health professionals in schools, particularly in areas with high needs. It does this by providing federal grants to help schools recruit, hire, retain, and diversify these providers, improving access to mental health services for students in elementary and secondary schools.

Key Provisions

• Definitions:
• Eligible agency: Includes high-need local educational agencies (LEAs, such as school districts with high poverty rates and low ratios of mental health staff to students), educational service agencies (groups that support multiple schools), or state educational agencies (SEAs, overseeing education at the state level).
• High-need LEA: Defined as schools in the top 15% of poverty in their state (based on the number or percentage of low-income students) that lack recommended staffing ratios (e.g., at least one school counselor per 250 students or one school psychologist per 500 students).
• Other terms, like "school-based mental health services provider" (professionals such as counselors, psychologists, or social workers providing mental health support in schools), draw from the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965.

• Grant Program:
• The U.S. Secretary of Education awards competitive grants to eligible agencies to expand mental health services.
• Reservations: Up to 2% of funds for administration, technical assistance, and data collection; 1% for schools run by the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE); 1% for outlying areas (U.S. territories like Puerto Rico), based on need.
• Duration: Grants last up to 5 years, with possible 2-year renewals.
• Diversity and Distribution: Grants prioritize geographic diversity (urban, suburban, rural) and allocate at least 50% of remaining funds to high-need LEAs.
• Grant Size: Must be large enough to achieve meaningful results.
• Applications: Require descriptions of local mental health needs, provider shortages (including diversity gaps), recruitment/retention plans, and assurances that services comply with privacy laws like the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA, which protects student records) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA, which ensures education for students with disabilities).
• Uses of Funds:
• Hire providers to deliver mental health services and improve school climate using evidence-based practices (methods proven effective by research).
• Recruit providers through incentives like salary bonuses, relocation help, loan repayment, or other financial perks.
• Retain providers via ongoing training, mentorship, or peer support.
• Rules:
• Grantees must match 25% of project costs with non-federal funds.
• Funds supplement (add to) existing resources, not replace them.
• Data reporting avoids revealing personal information or using unreliable small samples.
• Reporting: Annual reports to the Secretary and public posting on agency websites, covering provider numbers (by type and demographics), student-to-provider ratios, and reductions in staff turnover.
• Funding: Authorizes "such sums as necessary" for fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

• Additional Requirements: Applies general ESEA rules (e.g., on consultations and evaluations) to grantees, ensuring consistency with existing federal education standards.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill introduces a new standalone grant program under the Department of Education, building on ESEA frameworks but not amending them directly. It expands federal support for school mental health beyond existing programs by targeting recruitment, retention, and diversity specifically for high-need areas. It also incorporates BIE and outlying area reservations, which may enhance equity in underserved regions not always prioritized in prior laws.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: The Department of Education gains new administrative duties for grant oversight, technical assistance, and data collection. SEAs and LEAs in high-need areas receive funding to address staffing shortages, potentially easing burdens on under-resourced schools. BIE schools and outlying areas benefit from dedicated allocations, promoting more uniform national support.
• Citizens: Students in high-poverty schools, including low-income children, English learners, children with disabilities, and those in rural or tribal areas, gain better access to on-site mental health services, which could improve well-being, school attendance, and academic performance. Families may see reduced barriers to care, especially via telehealth options.
• International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic U.S. education.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• High-need LEAs and Students: Primary beneficiaries, including schools serving low-income, disabled, or English learner populations facing mental health provider shortages.
• Mental Health Providers: Counselors, psychologists, social workers, and paraprofessionals (support staff) who can access incentives for recruitment and retention.
• SEAs and Educational Service Agencies: Eligible for grants to coordinate efforts across districts.
• Tribal Communities and Outlying Areas: BIE-operated schools and U.S. territories receive targeted funding.
• Federal Government: Department of Education for implementation; Congress for appropriations.
• Broader Community: Parents, school leaders, and local governments supporting mental health in education.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Reinforces compliance with FERPA (student privacy) and IDEA (disability rights), ensuring services do not violate federal protections. The supplement-not-supplant rule prevents misuse of funds, aligning with anti-fraud standards in education law.
• Constitutional: Supports the federal role in education under the Spending Clause (Article I, Section 8), providing voluntary grants without mandating state actions, respecting federalism.
• Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (from Democrats and Republicans) highlights consensus on addressing youth mental health post-pandemic. It may influence future education budgets by authorizing ongoing funding, potentially sparking debates on federal spending priorities versus local control. No major controversies noted in the bill text, emphasizing equity and evidence-based approaches.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3]

Cosponsors (127)

Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1], Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13], Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9], Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6], Rep. Hoyer, Steny H. [D-MD-5], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1], Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8], Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38], Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7], Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10], Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Tran, Derek [D-CA-45], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Sorensen, Eric [D-IL-17], Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2], Rep. Whitesides, George [D-CA-27], Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large], Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4], Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5], Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4], Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20], Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15], Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. Rivas, Luz M. [D-CA-29], Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19], Rep. Friedman, Laura [D-CA-30], Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8], Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12], Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-VA-10], Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2] and 77 more

Recent Actions

• 2025-06-30: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
• 2025-06-30: Introduced in House
• 2025-06-30: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Expanding Access to Mental Health Services in Schools Act of 2025 — issued 2025-06-30 — PDF (11 pages)