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Read. Follow. Verify.Massachusetts establishes school grant program to fund mental health counselors and service contracts
Last action · January 15, 2026: Reporting date extended to Wednesday, March 18, 2026Sponsor: Marcus Vaughn
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What This Bill Would Do
Massachusetts establishes a school mental health professional grant program administered by to increase the number of counselors in school districts. School districts may apply to use the grant funds to cover salaries for employed mental health professionals or costs for contracting s.
School districts gain a new state funding source to help cover the employment or contracting costs of mental health professionals for students.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
school districts
School districts become eligible to apply for state grant funds to support mental health staff or third-party service contracts.
students
Students receive increased mental health support through additional professionals employed or contracted by their school districts.
mental health professionals
Mental health professionals may have their salaries funded in part or in whole by new state grants or through third-party contracts with school districts.
Key Facts
- Chapter 71 of the General Laws is amended by adding Section 100 to establish a school mental health professional grant program.
- The program's purpose is to increase the number of mental health professionals employed by school districts in the commonwealth.
- The department awards grants to school districts that apply in the form and manner set by the commissioner.
- Grant funds may be used to fund in part or in whole the salary of a school district mental health professional.
Show all 6 facts
- Grant funds may also be used to fund the cost of contracting with a third-party mental health service provider.
- The commissioner is required to adopt regulations implementing this section, including professional qualifications or certifications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to receive the school mental health professional grants?
What can school districts use the grant money for?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
5 actions- Jan 15, 2026HouseReporting date extended to Wednesday, March 18, 2026
- Nov 20, 2025JointHearing scheduled for 12/02/2025 from 01:00 PM-02:00 PM in A-2
- Oct 9, 2025JointHearing scheduled for 10/14/2025 from 11:00 AM-05:00 PM in Gardner Auditorium
- Feb 27, 2025SenateSenate concurred
- Feb 27, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to the committee on Education
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Introduction of Dedicated School Mental Health Grants
The bill amends Chapter 71 to formally introduce a targeted state grant program allowing districts to offset the costs of both internal staff and third-party contractors for mental health support.
Sources
malegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance60How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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