Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act

More counselors and social workers for high-poverty public schools — up to $5 billion in 2027.

More about this bill

If your child goes to a high-poverty public school, the school could get more counselors, psychologists, and social workers. The bill allows $5 billion for 2027 and open-ended amounts in later years. Congress would still have to approve the actual money. A high-poverty school is one in an area where at least 30% of students come from families below the poverty line. The Education Department would split the money among states by the shares they get from Title I, the main federal aid for low-income schools. States would then award the money to school districts through a competition, putting districts with many high-poverty schools first. Districts could hire and keep staff, or pay local mental health centers to do the work. The goal is one counselor and one social worker for every 250 students, and one psychologist for every 500. States would pay 20% of the cost themselves. Each grant would last five years and could be renewed if schools show progress. States would report each year on staffing levels. The Education Department would post those reports online.