Whereas the importance of school social work is recognized in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.) through the inclusion of school social work programs and services in such Acts;

Whereas school social workers are especially skilled in providing services to students who face serious challenges to school success, including disability, poverty, discrimination, abuse, neglect, mental illness, homelessness, bullying, familial stressors, and other barriers to learning;

Whereas school social workers are more necessary now than at any time in recent memory, as more students are struggling with mental and behavioral health disorders, with nearly 1 in 5 children ages 3 to 17 (21 percent) have been diagnosed with a mental, emotional, or behavioral health conditions;

Whereas individuals who wish to access community mental health services often find such services unavailable, inaccessible, or inadequate;

Whereas school social workers, being licensed mental health professionals in schools in the United States, provide necessary assessment, interventions, counseling, family outreach, and community referrals;

Whereas school mental health programs are critical to early identification and intervention of mental health problems and in the provision of appropriate mental health services when needed;

Whereas school social workers maintain knowledge of school culture and school climate, which are necessary for responsible school safety planning;

Whereas 1 in 5 children report having unmet mental healthcare needs;

Whereas school social workers serve as vital members of a school’s education team, playing a central role in creating partnerships between the home, school, and community to ensure student academic success;

Whereas the celebration of School Social Work Week during the week beginning March 2, 2026, highlights the vital role school social workers play in the lives of students in the United States; and

Whereas research indicates that school mental health programs improve educational outcomes by decreasing absences, dropout rates, and discipline referrals, while improving academic achievement: Now, therefore, be it