May 22, 2025
Mr. Young (for himself, Mrs. Shaheen, and Mr. Cramer) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
To establish the Mental Health Excellence in Schools Program to increase the recruitment and retention of school-based mental health services providers, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Mental Health Excellence in Schools Act
.
Sec. 2. Program to establish public-private contributions to increase the available workforce of school-based mental health service providers
(a) Program authorized
The Secretary shall carry out a program under which eligible graduate institutions may enter into an agreement with the Secretary to cover a portion of the cost of attendance of a participating student, which contributions shall be matched by equivalent contributions towards such cost of attendance by the Secretary.
(b) Designation of program
The program under this section shall be known as the Mental Health Excellence in Schools Program
.
(c) Agreements
The Secretary shall enter into an agreement with each eligible graduate institution seeking to participate in the program under this section. Each agreement shall specify the following:
(1)
The manner (whether by direct grant, scholarship, or otherwise) in which the eligible graduate institution will contribute to the cost of attendance of a participating student.
(2)
The maximum amount of the contribution to be made by the eligible graduate institution with respect to any particular participating student in any given academic year.
(3)
The maximum number of individuals for whom the eligible graduate institution will make contributions in any given academic year.
(4)
That the eligible graduate institution, in selecting participating students to receive assistance under the program, shall prioritize the participating students described in subsection (d)(2).
(5)
Such other matters as the Secretary and the eligible graduate institution determine appropriate.
(d) Outreach
The Secretary shall—
(1)
make publicly available and periodically update on the internet website of the Department of Education a list of the eligible graduate institutions participating in the program under this section that shall specify, for each such eligible graduate institution, appropriate information on the agreement between the Secretary and such eligible graduate institution under subsection (c); and
(2)
conduct outreach about the program under this section to participating students who, as undergraduates—
(A)
received a Federal Pell Grant under section 401 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a); or
(B)
attended an institution listed in section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)).
(e) Matching contributions
The Secretary may provide a contribution of up to 50 percent of the cost of attendance of a participating student if the eligible graduate institution at which such student is enrolled enters into an agreement under subsection (c) with the Secretary to match such contribution.
(f) Monitoring and evaluation
As a condition of participation in the program under this section, each eligible graduate institution shall agree to submit an annual report to the Secretary describing—
(1)
the number of students served by the program;
(2)
the percentage of tuition cost covered by the program;
(3)
the number of participating students who were also recipients of a Federal Pell Grant; and
(4)
as applicable, the graduation rates and post-graduate employment of participating students.
(g) Interim report
Not later than 2 years after the first contributions are provided under this section, the Secretary shall submit an interim report to Congress based on the annual reports required by subsection (f).
(h) Independent national evaluation
(1) In general
Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall provide for the commencement of an independent national evaluation of the outcomes and effectiveness of the program under this section.
(2) Report to congress
Not later than 90 days after receiving the results of such independent national evaluation, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress containing the findings of the evaluation and the Secretary’s recommendations for improvements to the program.
(i) Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act—
(1)
$20,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;
(2)
$30,000,000 for fiscal year 2027; and
(3)
$50,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2028 through 2030.
Sec. 3. Definitions
In this Act:
(1) Cost of attendance
The term cost of attendance has the meaning given the term in section 472 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087ll).
(2) Eligible graduate institution
The term eligible graduate institution means an institution of higher education that offers a program of study that leads to a graduate degree—
(A)
in school psychology that is accredited or approved by the National Association of School Psychologists' Program Accreditation Board or the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association and that prepares students in such program for the State licensing or certification examination in school psychology at the specialist level;
(B)
in an accredited school counseling program that prepares students in such program for the State licensing or certification examination in school counseling;
(C)
in school social work that is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and that prepares students in such program for the State licensing or certification examination in school social work;
(D)
in another school-based mental health field that prepares students in such program for the State licensing or certification examination in such field, if applicable; or
(E)
in any combination of study described in subparagraphs (A) through (D).
(3) Institution of higher education
The term institution of higher education has the meaning given such term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
(4) Participating student
The term participating student means an individual who is enrolled in a graduate degree program in a school-based mental health field at a participating eligible graduate institution.
(5) School-based mental health field
The term school-based mental health field means each of the following fields:
(A)
School counseling.
(B)
School social work.
(C)
School psychology.
(D)
Any other field of study that leads to employment as a school-based mental health services provider, as determined by the Secretary.
(6) School-based mental health services provider
The term school-based mental health services provider has the meaning given the term in section 4102 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7112).
(7) Secretary
The term Secretary means the Secretary of Education.