The Department of Education Announces Cancellation of $1 Billion in Mental Health Funding

The Department of Education is canceling $1 billion in school mental health funding—including grants aimed at supporting counselor professional development and recruitment—due to opposition to grant language that encouraged diversifying the mental health workforce. Grant recipients learned on April 29 that funding, which had been lawfully allocated under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, was being cancelled and that they would have to reapply for funding. Funding will continue for this year, but for funding beyond this year, recipients will have to reapply.

The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act was an anti-gun violence bill signed by President Biden. It provided funds to help schools hire more mental health professionals, including counselors. The funding was also used to support the professional development of the workforce and foster students’ sense of connection and engagement. This cancellation will disrupt essential funding, upending counselors’ livelihoods and cutting critical mental health support for schools.

Please join us in calling on Congress to help restore the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act funding. Act now! If you would like to get more involved in ACA’s advocacy efforts, contact us at advocacy@counseling.org.