H.R. 4253: Expanding Access to Mental Health Services in Schools Act of 2025
Sponsor
Rosa DeLauro
Democrat · CT-3
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Jun 30, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Students need more counselors at school
Why it matters
One of the bill's core yardsticks is whether schools fall short of 1 counselor per 250 students, 1 psychologist per 500, and 1 social worker per 250. H.R. 4253 would create grants to help high-need districts recruit and keep more school mental health staff.
H.R. 4253 creates a federal grant program for school-based mental health staffing. Schools, state agencies, and regional education agencies could use the money to recruit, hire, and keep mental health professionals in schools.
The bill is aimed at districts with the biggest shortages. To count as high-need, a district must be in the top 15% in its state on a poverty-related measure and miss at least two staffing benchmarks: 1 counselor per 250 students, 1 psychologist per 500 students, and 1 social worker per 250 students.
The money could cover salary stipends, relocation help, student loan repayment, professional development, mentorship, and peer support. Grants could run for up to 5 years, with renewals for up to 2 more years.
At least 50% of the available grant money must go to high-need districts after required set-asides. But schools would have to put up at least 25% of the project cost from non-federal sources, and they could not use the federal grant to replace money they already spend locally.
Schools that get funding would also face public reporting requirements. Each year, they would have to report staffing levels, student-to-provider ratios, hiring gains by role and demographics, and whether attrition is going down.
H.R. 4253 Bill Summary
What H.R. 4253 actually does.
Schools can hire and keep more mental health staff
The bill creates grants to expand the number of school-based mental health professionals, including counselors, psychologists, and social workers. Funding can support recruitment, hiring, retention, and workforce diversification.
Highest-need districts move to the front of the line
To qualify as high-need, a district must rank in the highest 15% in its state on the bill's poverty-related measure and fall short on at least two staffing benchmarks: 1 counselor per 250 students, 1 psychologist per 500 students, and 1 social worker per 250 students.
At least half the money goes to the biggest shortages
After set-asides, at least 50% of remaining funds must go to high-need local educational agencies. That steers most available grant money toward districts with both high need and thinner mental health staffing.
Money can cover pay incentives and loan repayment
Grant funds can be used for salary stipends, relocation benefits, student loan repayment, professional development, mentorship, induction, and peer support to help schools attract and retain staff.
Districts have to put up their own money too
Recipients must provide at least 25% of the project budget from non-federal sources. The federal money must add to local spending, not replace it.
Schools have to post staffing results publicly
Grant recipients must file annual reports and post them online, including provider counts, student-to-provider ratios, year-over-year staffing changes, demographic breakdowns, and attrition trends.
Who benefits from H.R. 4253?
Students in understaffed schools
Students in districts that miss benchmarks like 1 counselor per 250 students or 1 psychologist per 500 students could see more adults available for mental health support during the school day.
Counselors, psychologists, and social workers schools struggle to recruit
School mental health professionals could benefit from salary stipends, relocation help, student loan repayment, mentorship, and other retention support designed to make hard-to-fill jobs more sustainable.
High-need districts with the thinnest staffing
Districts that rank in the top 15% of need in their state and miss at least two staffing benchmarks are positioned to receive priority funding, with at least half of available grant money reserved for high-need applicants.
Bureau of Indian Education schools and outlying areas
The bill reserves 1% of appropriations for schools operated or funded by the Bureau of Indian Education and another 1% for outlying areas, giving both dedicated access to funding.
Who is affected by H.R. 4253?
School districts that want the grants
Applicants would need to document staffing shortages, provide a 25% non-federal match, and track detailed annual results if they win funding.
State and regional education agencies
State educational agencies and educational service agencies could apply on behalf of one or more high-need districts and would help manage grant distribution and compliance.
Schools already spending local money on mental health staff
Those schools could not swap federal dollars in for existing local funds. They would have to maintain their own spending and add matching money on top.
The Education Department
The department would have to run the grant program, manage set-asides, spread grants across urban, suburban, and rural areas, and collect annual reporting data from recipients.
HR4253 Legislative Journey
House: Committee Action
Jun 30, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
About the Sponsor
Rosa DeLauro
Democrat, Connecticut's 3rd congressional district · 35 years in Congress
Committees: Appropriations
View full profile →
Cosponsors (128)
This bill has 128 cosponsors: 126 Democrats, 2 Republicans. Cosponsors represent 37 states: Alabama, Arizona, California, and 34 more.
Jahana Hayes
Democrat · CT
Brian Fitzpatrick
Republican · PA
Gabe Amo
Democrat · RI
Becca Balint
Democrat · VT
André Carson
Democrat · IN
Judy Chu
Democrat · CA
Angie Craig
Democrat · MN
Lloyd Doggett
Democrat · TX
Dwight Evans
Democrat · PA
Adriano Espaillat
Democrat · NY
Josh Harder
Democrat · CA
Chrissy Houlahan
Democrat · PA
Cosponsor Coverage Map
Committee Sponsors
Education and Workforce Committee
10 of 36 committee members cosponsored
6 Democrats across this committee haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
H.R. 4253 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Education and Workforce
- Chamber
- House
- Policy
- Education
- Introduced
- Jun 30, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Jun 30, 2025
Official Sources
Official Congress.gov page for the bill, including status, text, sponsors, and actions.
This Education Department program is closely related to the bill's proposed school-based mental health staffing grants.
NCES district-level data could help identify eligible local educational agencies and assess school demographics and need.
Official federal education statistics provide background on school staffing and enrollment measures relevant to the bill's benchmarks.
The bill incorporates ESEA definitions, so the official compiled statute is relevant for defined terms used in implementation.
H.R. 4253 Common Questions
What does H.R. 4253 actually do?
It creates grants to help schools hire and keep more counselors, psychologists, social workers, and other school-based mental health staff.
Which school districts would get priority under H.R. 4253?
Districts have to rank in the top 15% of need in their state and miss at least 2 staffing benchmarks, including 1 counselor per 250 students.
What are the staffing benchmarks in H.R. 4253?
The bill uses 3 yardsticks: 1 counselor per 250 students, 1 psychologist per 500 students, and 1 social worker per 250 students.
Would schools have to match the federal money?
Yes. Recipients must provide at least 25% of the project budget from non-federal sources.
Can the grant money pay for student loan repayment or relocation help?
Yes. H.R. 4253 allows salary stipends, relocation benefits, student loan repayment, mentorship, and other retention supports.
How long could a school keep the grant?
A grant could last up to 5 years, with a renewal for up to 2 more years.
Can districts use this money to replace their current local spending?
No. The bill says federal money must add to existing non-federal spending, not replace it.
Would schools have to report their staffing results publicly?
Yes. Recipients would have to file annual reports and post them online, including staffing levels, ratios, and attrition trends.
Based on H.R. 4253 bill text
H.R. 4253 Bill Text
“To support States and high-need local educational agencies in increasing the number of mental health services providers in schools.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
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