H.R. 6131

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6131 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6131

To increase the recruitment and retention of school-based mental health 
services providers by low-income local educational agencies.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

November 19, 2025

Ms. Chu (for herself, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Bacon, Ms. Brown, Mrs. 
Cherfilus-McCormick, Ms. Craig, Ms. Dean of Pennsylvania, Ms. DeLauro, 
Mr. DeSaulnier, Mr. Evans of Pennsylvania, Mr. Garcia of Illinois, Mr. 
Gottheimer, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Mr. Lynch, Mrs. McClain Delaney, Ms. 
McClellan, Mr. Menendez, Ms. Norton, Mr. Panetta, Ms. Pingree, Mrs. 
Ramirez, Mr. Sorensen, Mr. Soto, Ms. Strickland, Mr. Thanedar, Mr. 
Thompson of Mississippi, Ms. Tokuda, and Mr. Whitesides) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and 
Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To increase the recruitment and retention of school-based mental health 
services providers by low-income local educational agencies.

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 ``Increasing Access to Mental Health 
in Schools Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) Best practices.--The term ``best practices'' means a 
technique or methodology that, through experience and research 
related to professional practice in a school-based mental 
health field, has proven to reliably lead to a desired result.
(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 masters or other 
graduate degree--
(A) in school psychology that is accredited or 
approved by the National Association of School 
Psychologists' Program Approval Board (or its 
successor) 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;
(B) in school counseling 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) Eligible partnership.--The term ``eligible 
partnership'' means--
(A) a partnership between 1 or more low-income 
local educational agencies and 1 or more eligible 
graduate institutions; or
(B) in any region in which local educational 
agencies may not have a sufficient elementary school 
and secondary school student population to support the 
placement of all participating graduate students, a 
partnership between a State educational agency, on 
behalf of 1 or more low-income local educational 
agencies, and 1 or more eligible graduate institutions.
(4) Institution of higher education.--The term 
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given such 
term in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1002), but excludes any institution of higher education 
described in section 102(a)(1)(C) of such Act.
(5) Local educational agency.--
(A) In general.--The term ``local educational 
agency'' means a public board of education or other 
public authority legally constituted within a State for 
either administrative control or direction of, or to 
perform a service function for, public elementary 
schools or secondary schools in a city, county, 
township, school district, or other political 
subdivision of a State, or of or for a combination of 
school districts or counties that is recognized in a 
State as an administrative agency for its public 
elementary schools or secondary schools.
(B) Administrative control and direction.--The term 
includes any other public institution or agency having 
administrative control and direction of a public 
elementary school or secondary school.
(C) Bureau of indian education schools.--The term 
includes an elementary school or secondary school 
funded by the Bureau of Indian Education but only to 
the extent that including the school makes the school 
eligible for programs for which specific eligibility is 
not provided to the school in another provision of law 
and the school does not have a student population that 
is smaller than the student population of the local 
educational agency receiving assistance under this Act 
with the smallest student population, except that the 
school shall not be subject to the jurisdiction of any 
State educational agency other than the Bureau of 
Indian Education.
(D) Educational service agencies.--The term 
includes educational service agencies and consortia of 
those agencies.
(E) State educational agency.--The term includes 
the State educational agency in a State in which the 
State educational agency is the sole educational agency 
for all public schools.
(6) Low-income local educational agency.--The term ``low-
income local educational agency'' means a local educational 
agency--
(A) for which not less than 20 percent of the 
students served by such agency are from families with 
incomes below the poverty line as determined by the 
Bureau of the Census on the basis of the most recent 
satisfactory data available; and
(B) that, as of the date of application for a grant 
under this Act, has ratios of school counselors, school 
social workers, and school psychologists to students 
served by the agency that are not more than 1 school 
counselor per 275 students, not more than 1 school 
psychologist per 500 students, and not more than 1 
school social worker per 250 students.
(7) Participating eligible graduate institution.--The term 
``participating eligible graduate institution'' means an 
eligible graduate institution that is part of an eligible 
partnership awarded a grant under section 3.
(8) Participating graduate.--The term ``participating 
graduate'' means an individual who--
(A) has received a masters or other graduate degree 
in a school-based mental health field from a 
participating eligible graduate institution and has 
obtained a State license or credential in the school-
based mental health field; and
(B) as a graduate student of a school-based mental 
health field, was placed in a school served by a 
participating low-income local educational agency to 
complete required field work, credit hours, 
internships, or related training as applicable.
(9) Participating low-income local educational agency.--The 
term ``participating low-income local educational agency'' 
means a low-income local educational agency that is part of an 
eligible partnership awarded a grant under section 3.
(10) 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.
(11) 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).
(12) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
of Education.
(13) State educational agency.--The term ``State 
educational agency'' has the meaning given the term in section 
8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 7801).
(14) Student support personnel target ratios.--The term 
``student support personnel target ratios'' means the ratios of 
school-based mental health services providers to students 
recommended to enable such personnel to effectively address the 
needs of students, including--
(A) at least 1 school counselor for every 250 
students (as recommended by the American School 
Counselor Association and American Counseling 
Association);
(B) at least 1 school psychologist for every 500 
students (as recommended by the National Association of 
School Psychologists); and
(C) at least 1 school social worker for every 250 
students (as recommended by the School Social Work 
Association of America).
(15) Unaccompanied youth.--The term ``unaccompanied youth'' 
has the meaning given such term in section 725 of the McKinney-
Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a).

SEC. 3. GRANT PROGRAM TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL 
HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDERS EMPLOYED BY LOW-INCOME LOCAL 
EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES.

(a) Grant Program Authorized.--From amounts made available to carry 
out this section, the Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive 
basis and after input from the peer review panel under subsection (d), 
to eligible partnerships, to enable the eligible partnerships to carry 
out pipeline programs to increase the number of school-based mental 
health services providers employed by low-income local educational 
agencies by carrying out any of the activities described by subsection 
(f).
(b) Grant Period.--A grant awarded under this section shall be for 
a 5-year period and may be renewed for additional 5-year periods upon a 
showing of adequate progress, as determined by the Secretary.
(c) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this 
section, an eligible graduate institution, on behalf of an eligible 
partnership, shall submit to the Secretary a grant application. The 
application shall contain such information as the Secretary may 
require, including--
(1) an assessment of the existing (as of the date of 
application) ratios of school-based mental health services 
providers (in the aggregate and disaggregated by profession) to 
students enrolled in schools in each low-income local 
educational agency that is part of the eligible partnership; 
and
(2) a detailed description of--
(A) a plan to carry out a pipeline program to 
train, place, and retain school-based mental health 
services providers in low-income local educational 
agencies; and
(B) the proposed allocation and use of grant funds 
to carry out activities described in subsection (f).
(d) Peer Review Panel.--
(1) Establishment of panel.--The Secretary shall establish 
a peer review panel to evaluate applications submitted under 
subsection (c) and make recommendations to the Secretary 
regarding such applications.
(2) Evaluation of applications.--In making its 
recommendations, the peer review panel shall take into account 
the purpose of this Act and the application requirements under 
subsection (c), including the quality of the proposed pipeline 
program described in subsection (c)(2)(A).
(3) Consideration of panel's recommendation.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary may award grants 
under this section to eligible partnerships only after 
taking into consideration the recommendations of the 
peer review panel provided under this subsection.
(B) Explanation.--In any case where the Secretary 
decides to not follow the recommendations of the peer 
review panel, the Secretary shall provide a written 
explanation of the decision to the panel and to the 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of 
the Senate and the Committee on Education and Workforce 
of the House of Representatives.
(4) Membership of panel.--
(A) In general.--The peer review panel shall 
include at a minimum the following members:
(i) One clinical, tenured, or tenure track 
faculty member at an institution of higher 
education with a current appointment, as of the 
time of service on the panel, to teach courses 
in the subject area of school counselor 
education.
(ii) One clinical, tenured, or tenure track 
faculty member at an institution of higher 
education with a current appointment, as of the 
time of service on the panel, to teach courses 
in the subject area of school social worker 
education.
(iii) One clinical, tenured, or tenure 
track faculty member at an institution of 
higher education with a current appointment, as 
of the time of service on the panel, to teach 
courses in the subject area of school 
psychology education.
(iv) One clinical, tenured, or tenure track 
faculty member at an institution of higher 
education with a current appointment to teach 
courses in the subject area of teacher 
education.
(v) One individual with expertise in school 
counseling who works or has worked in public 
schools.
(vi) One individual with expertise in 
school social work who works or has worked in 
public schools.
(vii) One individual with expertise in 
school psychology who works or has worked in 
public schools.
(viii) One administrator who works or has 
worked for a low-income local educational 
agency.
(ix) One qualified and effective teacher 
who has substantial experience working for a 
low-income local educational agency.
(x) One community mental health provider.
(B) Clinical faculty member.--At least 1 of the 
members described in subparagraph (A) shall be a 
clinical faculty member.
(e) Award Basis.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
Secretary shall--
(1) award the first 5 grants to eligible partnerships from 
5 different States; and
(2) give priority to eligible partnerships that--
(A) propose to use the grant funds to carry out the 
activities described under paragraphs (1) through (3) 
of subsection (f) in schools that have higher numbers 
or percentages of low-income students and students not 
achieving a proficient level of academic achievement, 
as determined by the State, on the annual assessments 
required under section 1111(b) of the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(b)) in 
comparison to other schools that are served by the low-
income local educational agency that is part of the 
eligible partnership;
(B) include 1 or more low-income local educational 
agencies that have fewer school-based mental health 
services providers, in the aggregate or for a 
particular school-based mental health field, per 
student than other eligible partnerships;
(C) include 1 or more eligible graduate 
institutions that offer the greatest number of graduate 
programs in the greatest number of different school-
based mental health fields; and
(D) propose to collaborate with other institutions 
of higher education with similar programs, including 
sharing facilities, faculty members, and administrative 
costs.
(f) Use of Grant Funds.--Grant funds awarded under this section may 
be used--
(1) to pay the administrative costs (including supplies, 
office and classroom space, supervision, mentoring, and 
transportation stipends as necessary and appropriate) related 
to--
(A) having graduate students of programs in school-
based mental health fields placed in schools served by 
participating low-income local educational agencies to 
complete required field work, credit hours, 
internships, or related training as applicable for the 
degree, license, or credential program of each such 
student; and
(B) offering required graduate coursework for 
students of a graduate program in a school-based mental 
health services field on the site of a participating 
low-income local educational agency;
(2) for not more than the first 3 years after a 
participating graduate receives a masters or other graduate 
degree from a program in a school-based mental health field, or 
obtains a State license or credential in a school-based mental 
health field, to hire and pay all or part of the salary of the 
participating graduates working as a school-based mental health 
services provider in a school served by a participating low-
income local educational agency;
(3) to increase the number of school-based mental health 
services providers per student in schools served by 
participating low-income local educational agencies, in order 
to work toward the student support personnel target ratios;
(4) to recruit, hire, and retain culturally or 
linguistically underrepresented graduate students of programs 
in school-based mental health fields for placement in schools 
served by participating low-income educational agencies;
(5) to recruit, hire, and pay faculty as necessary to 
increase the capacity of a participating eligible graduate 
institution to train graduate students in school-based mental 
health fields;
(6) to develop coursework that will--
(A) encourage a commitment by graduate students in 
school-based mental health fields to work for low-
income local educational agencies;
(B) give participating graduates the knowledge and 
skill sets necessary to meet the needs of--
(i) students and families served by low-
income local educational agencies; and
(ii) teachers, administrators, and other 
staff who work for low-income local educational 
agencies;
(C) enable participating graduates to meet the 
unique needs of students at risk of negative 
educational outcomes, including students who--
(i) are English language learners;
(ii) have a parent or caregiver who is a 
migrant worker;
(iii) have a parent or caregiver who is a 
member of the Armed Forces, including the 
National Guard, who has been deployed or 
returned from deployment;
(iv) are homeless, including unaccompanied 
youth;
(v) have come into contact with the 
juvenile justice system or adult criminal 
justice system, including students currently or 
previously held in juvenile detention 
facilities or adult jails and students 
currently or previously held in juvenile 
correctional facilities or adult prisons;
(vi) have been identified as eligible for 
services under the Individuals with 
Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et 
seq.) or the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 
U.S.C. 701 et seq.);
(vii) have been a victim to or witnessed 
domestic violence or violence in their 
community;
(viii) have been exposed to substance 
misuse at home or in the community; or
(ix) are foster care youth, youth aging out 
of foster care, or former foster youth; and
(D) utilize best practices determined by the 
American School Counselor Association, National 
Association of Social Workers, School Social Work 
Association of America, and National Association of 
School Psychologists and other relevant organizations;
(7) to provide tuition credits to graduate students 
participating in the pipeline program; and
(8) for similar activities to fulfill the purpose of this 
Act, as the Secretary determines appropriate.
(g) Supplement Not Supplant.--Funds made available under this 
section shall be used to supplement, not supplant, other Federal, 
State, or local funds available for the activities described in 
subsection (f).
(h) Reporting Requirements.--
(1) In general.--Each eligible partnership that receives a 
grant under this section shall prepare and submit to the 
Secretary an annual report on the progress of the eligible 
partnership in carrying out the grant. Such report shall 
include a description of--
(A) actual service delivery provided through the 
grant funds, including--
(i) characteristics of the participating 
eligible graduate institution, including 
descriptive information on the educational 
model used and the actual academic program 
performance;
(ii) characteristics of graduate students 
participating in the pipeline program supported 
under the grant, including--
(I) performance on any examinations 
required by the State for credentialing 
or licensing;
(II) demographic characteristics; 
and
(III) graduate student retention 
rates;
(iii) characteristics of students of the 
participating low-income local educational 
agency, including performance on any tests 
required by the State educational agency, 
demographic characteristics, and promotion, 
persistence, and graduation rates, as 
appropriate;
(iv) an estimate of the annual 
implementation costs of the pipeline program; 
and
(v) the numbers of students, schools, and 
graduate students participating in the pipeline 
program;
(B) outcomes that are consistent with the purpose 
of the grant program under this Act, including--
(i) internship and post-graduation 
placement of the participating graduate 
students;
(ii) graduation and professional career 
readiness indicators; and
(iii) characteristics of the participating 
low-income local educational agency, including 
changes in the hiring and retention of 
qualified and effective teachers and school-
based mental health services providers;
(C) the instruction, materials, and activities 
being funded under the grant; and
(D) the effectiveness of any training and ongoing 
professional development provided--
(i) to students and faculty in the 
appropriate departments or schools of the 
participating eligible graduate institution;
(ii) to the faculty, administration, and 
staff of the participating low-income local 
educational agency; and
(iii) to the broader community of providers 
of social, emotional, behavioral, and related 
support to students and to those individuals 
who train such providers.
(2) Publication.--The Secretary shall publish the annual 
reports submitted under paragraph (1) on the website of the 
Department of Education.
(i) Evaluations.--
(1) Interim evaluations.--The Secretary may conduct interim 
evaluations to determine whether each eligible partnership 
receiving a grant under this section is making adequate 
progress as the Secretary considers appropriate. The contents 
of the annual report submitted to the Secretary under 
subsection (h) may be used by the Secretary to determine 
whether an eligible partnership receiving a grant is 
demonstrating adequate progress.
(2) Final evaluation.--The Secretary shall conduct a final 
evaluation to--
(A) determine the effectiveness of the grant 
program in carrying out the purpose of this Act; and
(B) compare the relative effectiveness of each of 
the various activities described by subsection (f) for 
which grant funds may be used.
(j) Report.--Not earlier than 5 years, and not later than 6 years, 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to 
Congress a report containing--
(1) the findings of the evaluation conducted under 
subsection (i)(2); and
(2) such recommendations as the Secretary considers 
appropriate.
(k) Authorization of Appropriations.--
(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to 
the Secretary to carry out the program under this section, 
$200,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 and for each succeeding 
fiscal year.
(2) Reservation for evaluation.--From the total amount 
appropriated to carry out this section each fiscal year, the 
Secretary shall reserve not more than 3 percent for evaluations 
under subsection (i).

SEC. 4. STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT FOR SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES 
PROVIDERS.

(a) Establishment of Program.--The Secretary shall establish and 
carry out a program to provide repayment of student loans made, 
insured, or guaranteed under parts B, D, and E of title IV of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1071 et seq., 1087a et seq., 
and 1087aa et seq.) to individuals who are employed by low-income local 
educational agencies as school-based mental health services providers.
(b) Agreement.--In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
enter into agreements with individuals to make payments in accordance 
with this section on the principal of, and interest on, any eligible 
loan and the individuals agree to complete a 5-year period of 
consecutive employment by a low-income local educational agency as a 
school-based mental health services provider and facilitate 
verification of such employment annually by the Secretary.
(c) Eligible Individual.--In order to be eligible under this 
section, an individual shall--
(1) be a recent graduate of an institution of higher 
education or a mid-career professional newly embarking on a 
career as a school-based mental health provider; and
(2) submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in 
such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary 
may require.
(d) Eligible Loans.--The loans eligible for repayment under this 
section include the following:
(1) Any Federal Family Education Loan under part B of title 
IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1071 et 
seq.).
(2) Any Federal Direct Stafford Loan, Federal Direct PLUS 
Loan, or Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, or Federal 
Direct Consolidation Loan (as such terms are used in section 
455 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087e)).
(3) Any Federal Perkins Loan under part E of title IV of 
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087aa et seq.).
(4) Any other Federal loan made, insured, or guaranteed 
under part B, D, or E of title IV of the Higher Education Act 
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1071 et seq., 1087a et seq., and 1087aa et 
seq.).
(e) Payments.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall pay--
(A) for each of the first 4 consecutive school 
years of employment as a school-based mental health 
services provider by a low-income local educational 
agency completed, \1/5\ of the principal of, and 
interest on, each eligible loan of the individual which 
is outstanding on the date the individual began such 
employment; and
(B) for the 5th consecutive year of such employment 
completed, the remainder of such principal and 
interest.
(2) Maximum aggregate.--The total amount of payments under 
this section to any individual shall not exceed $200,000 in the 
aggregate.
(3) Limitation.--The failure by an individual to complete 
the full period of employment obligated pursuant to an 
agreement under subsection (b), taken alone, shall not 
constitute a breach of the agreement, so long as the individual 
completed in good faith any year or years of employment for 
which payments were made to the individual under paragraph (1). 
An individual who fails to complete the full period of 
employment obligated pursuant to an agreement under subsection 
(b) shall not be asked or required to pay back a payment 
received under such paragraph solely due to such failure.
(f) Additional Eligibility Provisions.--
(1) Continued eligibility.--Any individual who is employed 
by a local educational agency that meets the requirements of 
section 2(6) in the 1st year of the 5-year period of 
consecutive employment required under this section, but in a 
subsequent year fails to meet such requirements, may continue 
employment by such local educational agency and shall be 
eligible for loan repayment under this section.
(2) Double benefits.--A borrower may, for the same 
employment, receive a benefit under both this section and the 
public service loan forgiveness program under section 455(m) of 
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087e(m)). Each 
year of receipt of a benefit under this section shall be 
considered 12 months of payments for the purposes of such 
public service loan forgiveness program.
(3) Reconsideration.--In any case where the Secretary has 
determined that a recipient of assistance under this section 
has failed or refused to comply with the employment obligation 
in the agreement under subsection (b), the recipient may 
request that the Secretary reconsider such initial 
determination and may submit additional information to 
demonstrate satisfaction of the employment obligation. Upon 
receipt of such a request, the Secretary shall reconsider the 
determination in accordance with this paragraph not later than 
90 days after the date that such request was received.
(g) Directory.--The Secretary shall maintain a directory that lists 
the local educational agencies that meet the requirements of section 
2(6).
(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary such sums as may be necessary to carry 
out the program under this section.

SEC. 5. FUTURE DESIGNATION STUDY.

(a) In General.--The Secretary shall conduct a study to identify a 
formula for future designation of regions with a shortage of school-
based mental health services providers to use in implementing grant 
programs and other programs such as the programs established under this 
Act or for other purposes related to any such designation.
(b) Basis of Formula.--The formula described in subsection (a) 
shall be based on the latest available data regarding an area served by 
a low-income local educational agency on--
(1) the number of residents under the age of 18 in such 
area;
(2) the percentage of the population of such area with 
incomes below the poverty line;
(3) the percentage of residents age 18 or older in such 
area who have earned secondary school diplomas;
(4) the percentage of students in such area who are 
identified as eligible for special education services;
(5) the youth crime rate in such area;
(6) the current number of full-time-equivalent and active 
school-based mental health services providers employed by the 
low-income local educational agency in such area, in the 
aggregate and disaggregated by profession;
(7) the number of students in such area in military 
families with parents in the Armed Forces (including the 
National Guard and Reserves) who have been alerted for 
deployment, are currently deployed, or have returned from a 
deployment in the previous school year; and
(8) such other criteria as the Secretary considers 
appropriate.
(c) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report containing 
the findings of the study conducted under subsection (a).
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