A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See all 2 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Mental Health Excellence in Schools Act establishes the Mental Health Excellence in Schools Program. This program aims to increase the recruitment and retention of school-based mental health services providers. It works by having the Secretary of Education enter into agreements with eligible graduate institutions to cover portions of student costs. The Secretary will match contributions made by these institutions up to 50 percent of a student's cost of attendance. The bill also includes requirements for outreach, annual reporting, and national evaluations.
Yes· 3 of 12
- Scored +7
Would students be better off under this?
The bill offers substantial financial support for graduate students in specific fields.
- Scored +6
Does this make college cost less?
The bill provides significant tuition assistance for graduate students in specific mental health fields.
- Scored +6
Does this make mental health care easier to get?
By increasing the number of school-based mental health providers, the bill improves access to these services for students.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Financial Support for Graduate Students: The program provides a way for students to have their costs of attendance covered through contributions from both graduate institutions and the Secretary (Section 2(a), Section 2(e)).
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Targeted Assistance for Specific Students: Institutions are required to prioritize certain participating students, specifically those who received a Federal Pell Grant or attended specific institutions as undergraduates (Section 2(c)(4), Section 2(d)(2)).
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Increased Mental Health Workforce: By covering costs for students in fields like school psychology, school counseling, and school social work, the program seeks to increase the available workforce of providers in schools (Section 2, Section 3(2)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts or burdens are explicitly stated in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would students be better off under this? — The bill offers substantial financial support for graduate students in specific fields. Would children be better off under this? — Increased mental health services in schools directly benefit children's well-being. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — The bill provides significant financial assistance to graduate-level students. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill prioritizes students who have previously received Federal Pell Grants.
- Education And Technology
- Does this make college cost less? — The bill provides significant tuition assistance for graduate students in specific mental health fields. Does this put more money into public schools? — The bill funds the expansion of mental health services within the public school system.
- Healthcare
- Does this make mental health care easier to get? — By increasing the number of school-based mental health providers, the bill improves access to these services for students.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill prioritizes students who received Federal Pell Grants, which often benefits marginalized communities. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill provides financial assistance to graduate students who may come from lower-income backgrounds.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires annual reports and an independent national evaluation to be submitted to Congress. Does this give the federal government more power? — The Secretary of Education is authorized to manage and match contributions from graduate institutions.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill aims to increase the workforce of school-based mental health providers through financial incentives.
- 5/22/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Kevin CramerRepublican · North Dakota
Jeanne ShaheenDemocrat · New Hampshire