The Education Department has awarded over $208 million in new grants to expand mental health services in schools.
The funds were distributed to 65 recipients, with more than $120 million of the total going to support rural states and school districts to increase access to providers in high-need areas, according to a Dec. 11 department news release.
The grants follow the department’s April decision to end more than 200 school-based mental health and provider grants it said prioritized “ideology” over effective care. At the time, the department cited concerns with racial preferencing, DEI training mandates and staffing quotas. Some non-continuation decisions are being litigated by 16 Democratic state attorneys general, according to the news release.
In July, the department said it issued new grant priorities aimed at ensuring funds support “merit-based hiring and evidence-based services.” After receiving thousands of public comments, the department published the final framework in September. According to the department, updated eligibility rules now require funds to go to state or local education agencies partnering with higher education institutions rather than being awarded directly to colleges.
The department further added that the grants are designed to expand capacity in rural and underserved areas, reduce student-to-psychologist ratios, and support workforce development through stipends and recruitment bonuses.
