The Department of Education has approved $2.3 billion in grants to place licensed mental health counselors in 5,000 public schools nationwide. The program prioritizes Title I schools and rural districts that currently lack any on-site mental health professionals.
Under the initiative, each participating school will receive funding for at least one full-time counselor for three years. Schools must implement evidence-based screening protocols and provide quarterly reports on student engagement and outcomes.
The announcement comes as youth mental health concerns remain elevated, with recent CDC data showing that 42% of high school students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in the past year.
