Student Support Act
This bill requires the Department of Education to make matching grants to states for allocation to local educational agencies (LEAs) so that additional school-based mental health and student service providers may be hired, thereby reducing the student-to-provider ratios in elementary and secondary schools to specified minimum levels recommended by the leading counseling, guidance, and mental health organizations.
Grants to states and state allocations to LEAs must be made pursuant to specified formulas that take into account a state's and school district's share of children in poverty.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6091 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6091
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to direct
the Secretary of Education to make grants to States for assistance in
hiring additional school-based mental health and student service
providers.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 26, 2023
Ms. Lee of California (for herself, Ms. Tokuda, Mr. Thanedar, Ms.
Crockett, Ms. Salinas, Mrs. Watson Coleman, and Mrs. Cherfilus-
McCormick) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and the Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to direct
the Secretary of Education to make grants to States for assistance in
hiring additional school-based mental health and student service
providers.
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 ``Student Support Act''.
SEC. 2. SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH AND STUDENT SERVICE PROVIDERS.
(a) In General.--Part A of title IV of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.) is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``Subpart 3--School-Based Mental Health and Student Service Providers
``SEC. 4131. FINDINGS.
``Congress finds the following:
``(1) The Surgeon General of the Public Health Service has
found that 1 in 6 children (ages 2 to 8) has a diagnosable
mental disorder and 1 in 10 children and adolescents suffer
from mental illness severe enough to cause some level of
impairment. However, 75 to 80 percent of children in need of
mental health services do not receive needed treatment. The
short- and long-term consequences of untreated childhood mental
disorders are costly, in both human and fiscal terms.
``(2) Thirty-seven percent of students with a mental health
condition age 14 and older drop out of school--the highest
dropout rate of any disability group.
``(3) Fifty percent of all lifetimes cases of mental
illness begin by the age of 14 and 75 percent by age 24.
``(4) In June 2010, the American Academy of Pediatrics
called for all pediatricians to screen children and adolescents
for mental illness and substance use.
``(5) Just over half (50.6 percent) of children with a
mental health condition aged 8-15 received mental health
services in the previous year.
``(6) African Americans and Hispanic Americans each use
mental health services at about one-half the rate of Caucasian
Americans and Asian Americans at about one-third the rate.
``(7) School counselors, school social workers, school
psychologists, other qualified psychologists, and child and
adolescent psychiatrists are critically needed to help these
children and to provide a variety of crucial support services
as 70-80 percent of children and adolescents who receive mental
health services access these services in school settings.
``(8) Across the United States, there are insufficient
resources for school-based counseling professionals, and often
students do not get the help they need. The 2017 national
average ratio of students to school counselors in elementary
and secondary schools was 482 to 1.
``(9) United States public schools need more mental health
professionals because participation in the use of school-based
mental health centers (SBHC) was positively associated with
increases in grade point average (GPA) and attendance.
``(10) According to the leading counseling, guidance, and
mental health organizations, including the American School
Counselor Association, the National Association of Social
Psychologists, the National Association of Social Workers, and
the School Social Work Association of America, the maximum
recommended ratio of--
``(A) students to school counselors is 250 to 1;
``(B) students to school psychologists is 500 to 1;
and
``(C) students to school social workers is 250 to
1.
``(11) A recent study revealed a national average ratio of
1,653 students per school psychologist, despite the 1:500-700
recommendation from the National Association of Social
Psychologists. This deficit is further compounded by studies
predicting a 2-4 percent shortage of school psychologists over
the next 10 years due to retirement. In some schools, there are
no school-based mental health and student service providers
available to assist students in times of crisis, or at any
other time.
``(12) Counselor-to-student ratios in 35 States exceed
1:400 despite recommendations from the American School
Counselor Association for a 1:250 ratio. Only three States--
Vermont, Wyoming & New Hampshire--meet the recommended ratio.
This shortage occurs during a time when the National Center on
Education Statistics forecasts that the Nation's number of
public school students (Pre-K to 12th) will grow by 7 percent
between 2011 and 2022, particularly in States that already
spend the least money per student.
``(13) Model programs using school-based mental health and
student service providers have positive effects on emotional,
behavioral and academic outcomes, such as reductions in
aggressive and disruptive behavior, referrals to the
principal's office, the use of weapons, force, or threats, and
increased students' feelings of safety. Studies also find that
mental health programs can have a range of positive outcomes
across all grade levels, including gains in achievement test
scores, grade point averages, course credit completion, as well
as decreases in absences and substance use.
``SEC. 4132. PURPOSES.
``The purposes of this subpart are to assist States and local
educational agencies in hiring additional school-based mental health
providers, including additional school counselors, school
psychologists, other qualified psychologists, child and adolescent
psychiatrists, and school social workers to achieve each of the
following:
``(1) To reduce the ratios of school-based mental health
and student service providers to students in elementary and
secondary schools in the United States to the following minimum
ratios recommended by the leading counseling, guidance, and
mental health organizations, including the American School
Counselor Association, the National Association of Social
Psychologists, the National Association of Social Workers, and
the School Social Work Association of America:
``(A) One school counselor for every 250 students.
``(B) One school psychologist for every 500 to 700
students.
``(C) One school social worker for every 250
students.
``(2) To provide evidence-based school mental health and
student services through a whole school and interdisciplinary
approach.
``(3) To remove emotional, behavioral, and psychosocial
barriers to learning so as to enhance students' classroom
preparedness, overall school performance, decrease rates of
absenteeism, and ability to problem solve and set goals.
``(4) To support school staff and teachers in improving
classroom management, conducting behavioral interventions to
improve school discipline, and developing the awareness and
skills to identify the need for mental health services.
``(5) To support parental involvement in improving the
school behavior and academic success of their children.
``(6) To improve the overall mental, behavioral, social,
and psychology assessment and trajectory of each student who
seeks mental health services.
``(7) To ensure each student feels comfortable and has all
the resources they need to continue short and/or long-term
mental health treatment.
``SEC. 4133. DEFINITIONS.
``In this subpart, the following definitions apply:
``(1) Child.--The term `child' means an individual who is
not less than 5 years old and not more than 17 years old.
``(2) Child and adolescent psychiatrist.--The term `child
and adolescent psychiatrist' has the meaning given such term in
section 5421(e).
``(3) Child in poverty.--The term `child in poverty' means
a child from a family with an income below the poverty line.
``(4) Mental health and student service provider.--The term
`mental health and student service provider' means a qualified
individual who provides mental health and student services,
including any individual who is a qualified school counselor, a
qualified school psychologist or any other qualified
psychologist, a child or adolescent psychiatrist, or a
qualified school social worker.
``(5) Mental health and student services.--The term `mental
health and student services' includes direct, individual, and
group services provided to students, parents, and school
personnel by mental health and student service providers, and
the coordination of prevention strategies in schools or
community-based programs.
``(6) Other qualified psychologist.--The term `other
qualified psychologist' has the meaning given such term in
section 5421(e).
``(7) Poverty line.--The term `poverty line' means the
poverty line (as defined by the Office of Management and
Budget, and revised annually in accordance with section 673(2)
of the Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(2)))
applicable to a family of the size involved.
``(8) School counselor.--The term `school counselor' means
an individual who has documented competence in counseling
children and adolescents in a school setting and who--
``(A) possesses State licensure or certification
granted by an independent professional regulatory
authority;
``(B) possesses national certification in school
counseling or a specialty of counseling granted by an
independent professional organization; or
``(C) holds a minimum of a master's degree in
school counseling from a program accredited by the
Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related
Educational Programs or the equivalent.
``(9) School psychologist.--The term `school psychologist'
means an individual who--
``(A) possesses a minimum of 60 graduate semester
hours in school psychology from an institution of
higher education and has completed 1,200 clock hours in
a supervised school psychology internship, of which 600
hours shall be in a school setting;
``(B) possesses State licensure or certification in
school psychology in the State in which the individual
works; or
``(C) possesses national certification by the
National School Psychology Certification Board.
``(10) School social worker.--The term `school social
worker' means an individual who--
``(A) holds a master's degree in social work from a
program accredited by the Council on Social Work
Education;
``(B) is licensed or certified by the State in
which services are provided; or
``(C) possesses a national credential or national
certification as a school social work specialist
granted by an independent professional organization.
``(11) State.--The term `State' means each of the several
States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico.
``SEC. 4134. SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH AND STUDENT SERVICE PROVIDER
GRANT PROGRAM.
``(a) In General.--In accordance with this subpart, the Secretary
shall make grants to eligible States to assist local educational
agencies in those States in hiring additional school-based mental
health and student service providers.
``(b) Allocation of Funds.--From the total amount appropriated for
a fiscal year to carry out this subpart, the Secretary shall--
``(1) make available 1 percent of such amount to the
Secretary of the Interior (on behalf of the Bureau of Indian
Affairs) and the outlying areas for activities that carry out
the purposes of this subpart; and
``(2) make available in the form of grants to each eligible
State an amount equal to the sum of--
``(A) an amount that bears the same relationship to
50 percent of such total amount as the number of
children in poverty who reside in the State bears to
the number of such children in all States; and
``(B) an amount that bears the same relationship to
50 percent of such total amount as the number of
children enrolled in public and private nonprofit
elementary schools and secondary schools in the State
bears to the number of children enrolled in all such
schools in all States.
``(c) Minimum Grant.--Notwithstanding subsection (b), no grant
under this section shall be for an amount less than $1,000,000.
``(d) Reallocation.--The Secretary shall reallocate to States that
have received approval under subsection (e)(2) any funds allocated
under subsection (b) to a State that fails to submit an application
that is approved by the Secretary.
``(e) Application by State.--
``(1) In general.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
this subpart, a State shall submit an application to the
Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Secretary may require.
``(2) Approval.--The Secretary may not approve an
application under this subsection unless the State submitting
the application--
``(A) presents a plan, which the Secretary
considers to be reasonable, under which the State will
make grants, in accordance with the purposes of this
subpart, to local educational agencies to fund the
hiring of additional school counselors, school
psychologists, other qualified psychologists, child and
adolescent psychiatrists, and school social workers;
and
``(B) provides an assurance that the State will
provide the matching amount required under subsection
(g).
``(f) Use of Funds by State.--
``(1) In general.--In accordance with this subsection, the
total of the amounts made available to a State under this
section and the amounts of the non-Federal match required under
subsection (g) may only be used by a State to make grants to
local educational agencies to assist such agencies in hiring
additional school-based mental health and student service
providers.
``(2) Administrative costs.--In each fiscal year, a State
may use not more than 5 percent of the assistance made
available to it under this subpart for the administrative costs
of the State in carrying out the State's responsibilities under
this subpart.
``(3) Allocation of funds.--In making grants in accordance
with this subsection, the State shall allocate from the total
described in paragraph (1) to each local educational agency an
amount equal to the sum of--
``(A) an amount that bears the same relationship to
50 percent of such total as the number of children in
poverty who reside in the school district served by the
local educational agency bears to the number of such
children who reside in all the school districts in the
State; and
``(B) an amount that bears the same relationship to
50 percent of such total as the number of children
enrolled in public and private nonprofit elementary
schools and secondary schools in the school district
served by the local educational agency bears to the
number of children enrolled in all such schools in the
State.
``(4) Minimum grant.--Notwithstanding paragraph (3), no
grant made by a State in accordance with this subsection shall
be for an amount less than $50,000.
``(5) Source of data.--For purposes of paragraph (3), the
State shall use data from the most recent fiscal year for which
satisfactory data are available, except that the State may
adjust such data, or use alternative child poverty data, if the
State demonstrates to the Secretary's satisfaction that such
adjusted or alternative data more accurately reflect the
relative incidence of children who are living in poverty and
who reside in the school districts in the State.
``(6) Application by local educational agencies.--A State
may require that, in order to be eligible for a grant made by
the State in accordance with this subsection, a local
educational agency shall submit an application to the State at
such time, in such manner, and containing such information as
the State may require.
``(g) Matching Funds.--
``(1) In general.--As a condition of receiving a grant
under this section, the Secretary shall require that a State
provide from non-Federal sources an amount equal to the amount
of the grant.
``(2) Local contribution.--In making grants to local
educational agencies in accordance with this subsection, a
State may require that a local educational agency match a
portion of the amount of the grant made to the agency.
``(3) Form.--The non-Federal share required by this
subsection may be provided in cash or in kind, fairly
evaluated, and may include facilities, equipment, or services.
``(h) Funds To Be Supplementary.--Assistance made available under
this subpart shall be used to supplement, and may not supplant,
Federal, State, or local funds used for employing school-based mental
health and student service providers.
``(i) Data Collection and Report.--
``(1) In general.--For each fiscal year for which it
receives assistance under this subpart, a State shall collect
data describing how the assistance is used.
``(2) Report.--Not later than 1 year after assistance is
made available to a State under this subpart, the State shall
transmit to the Secretary a report on the data described in
paragraph (1), including information with respect to each local
educational agency to which the State made a grant with
assistance made available under this subpart--
``(A) the number of school counselors, school
psychologists, other qualified psychologists, child and
adolescent psychiatrists, and school social workers
employed by local educational agency; and
``(B) the ratio of students to school counselors,
the ratio of students to school psychologists or other
qualified psychologists, the ratio of students to child
and adolescent psychiatrists, and the ratio of students
to school social workers.
``(3) Source of funds.--A State may use a portion of the
assistance permitted to be used for administrative costs to
carry out its responsibilities under this subsection.
``(4) Publication.--The Secretary shall make data received
under this subsection publicly available on an annual basis.
``SEC. 4135. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subpart
$100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents for the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) is amended
by inserting after the item relating to section 4121 the following:
``subpart 3--school-based mental health and student service providers
``Sec. 4131. Findings.
``Sec. 4132. Purposes.
``Sec. 4133. Definitions.
``Sec. 4134. School-based mental health and student service provider
grant program.
``Sec. 4135. Authorization of appropriations.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
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