[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2730 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2730
To direct the Secretary of Education to establish a pilot grant program
to develop, implement, and evaluate comprehensive mental health
services programs in elementary schools and secondary schools, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 14, 2021
Mr. Padilla (for himself and Ms. Warren) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Education to establish a pilot grant program
to develop, implement, and evaluate comprehensive mental health
services programs in elementary schools and secondary schools, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Comprehensive Mental Health in
Schools Pilot Program Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. MENTAL HEALTH PILOT GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) Purposes.--The purposes of the program established under this
section are to--
(1) prioritize, with respect to all elementary school and
secondary school students--
(A) academic, cognitive, social-emotional, and
identity development;
(B) mental and behavioral health; and
(C) physical health;
(2) meet the priorities described in paragraph (1) by
intervening with equitable multi-tier systems of support;
(3) support measurable outcomes, which focus on continuous
improvement instead of punitive measures;
(4) ensure equitable access to high-quality, safe, and
supportive learning environments;
(5) integrate the teaching of social, emotional, and
cognitive learning skills and competencies throughout all
aspects of the elementary school and secondary school
environments, including through standalone measures;
(6) use evidence-based instructional materials, practices,
programs, and resources to implement the practices described in
paragraph (5);
(7) build expertise among trusted adults with respect to
responding to the mental and behavioral health needs of
students in elementary school and secondary school communities,
including teachers, administrators, specialized instructional
support personnel, paraprofessionals, other staff, parents, and
caregivers; and
(8) hire a full complement of mental and behavioral health
professionals to ensure an appropriate ratio of students to
such professionals.
(b) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a pilot grant
program to award grants, on a competitive basis, to local educational
agencies to--
(1) establish, develop, implement, and evaluate a
comprehensive, multi-tier system of support with respect to
mental and behavioral health services programs in elementary
schools and secondary schools served by such local educational
agencies; and
(2) fully fund comprehensive mental and behavioral health
services in such elementary schools and secondary schools.
(c) Consultation and Assistance.--In establishing the program under
subsection (b), the Secretary shall--
(1) consult with nationally recognized organizations that
identify, support, and advocate for evidence-based social-
emotional learning policy and practices and multi-tier systems
of support within elementary schools and secondary schools;
(2) consult with nationally recognized organizations--
(A) with expertise in child, adolescent, and
developmental mental health; and
(B) that identify, support, and advocate for
evidence-based prevention of, and intervention for,
child trauma; and
(3) provide technical assistance to grant recipients with
respect to implementation and execution of activities under
this section.
(d) Application.--
(1) In general.--To be eligible for a grant under this
section, a local educational agency shall submit to the
Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and
containing such information as the Secretary may require,
including--
(A) a needs assessment;
(B) a plan to--
(i) during the grant period described in
subsection (f), implement the activities
described under subsection (h); and
(ii) after the conclusion of the grant
period described in subsection (f), maintain
such activities; and
(C) a cost assessment with respect to implementing
the plan described in subparagraph (B).
(2) Timing.--A local educational agency may only submit an
application during the period--
(A) beginning on the date that the Secretary
establishes the program under subsection (b); and
(B) ending on the date that is 120 days after the
date described in subparagraph (A).
(3) Notification period.--The Secretary shall notify each
local educational agency that submits an application under this
subsection of the decision to award, or not award, a grant to
such agency not later than 90 days after the date that is the
final day of the period described in paragraph (2)(B).
(e) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary
shall give priority to local educational agencies that--
(1) serve high-poverty elementary schools and secondary
schools; and
(2) with respect to the services described in paragraphs
(3) and (4) of subsection (h)--
(A) provide such services within such elementary
schools and secondary schools; or
(B) provide an assurance, in the application
submitted under subsection (d), that such local
educational agency will use grant funds awarded under
this section to implement such services within such
elementary schools and secondary schools.
(f) Grant Period.--
(1) Duration.--A grant awarded under this section shall be
for a period of 4 consecutive academic years.
(2) Beginning of grant period.--The grant period described
in paragraph (1) shall begin on the date that is the first day
of the first academic year beginning after the Secretary
notifies each local educational agency under subsection (d)(3).
(g) Supplement Not Supplant.--Grant funds provided under this
section shall be used to supplement, not supplant, other Federal,
State, or local funds available to carry out the activities described
in subsection (h).
(h) Grant Uses.--A local educational agency shall use grant funds
awarded under this section for the following activities:
(1) Evaluating the needs of the elementary schools and
secondary schools served by such local educational agency with
respect to the activities described in paragraphs (2) through
(4).
(2) Implementing, in consultation with teachers and school
mental and behavioral health professionals, evidence-based
universal social-emotional learning programs, approaches, and
supports, including by--
(A) incorporating principles of motivation and
engagement and resiliency training into class
instruction;
(B) promoting connections by establishing regular
collaboration and communication between and among
students, parents, caregivers, and staff;
(C) promoting a safe, equitable, supportive, and
healthy school climate that is racially, culturally,
developmentally, and linguistically responsive to
encourage positive behavior and academic engagement;
(D) establishing racially, culturally,
developmentally, and linguistically appropriate
evidence-based trauma-informed and trauma-competent
practices to support students and staff;
(E) establishing evidence-informed psychological
supports for students and staff to promote a sense of
agency, safety, calmness, self-efficacy, mindfulness,
and coping skills; and
(F) adopting positive, non-punitive, restorative
policies to address challenging behaviors, discipline,
and de-escalation, focused on developing, maintaining,
and repairing relationships in place of utilizing
retributive and exclusionary practices.
(3) Implementing targeted interventions that are equitable
for all students and that support emotional management, goal
setting, and establishing routines and consistency, including--
(A) evidence-based and trauma-informed screening
and referral to mental and behavioral health services;
(B) small groups for support, problem-solving, and
strengthening collaborations;
(C) peer support groups;
(D) parent and caregiver engagement;
(E) periodic check-in meetings with students during
the regular school day;
(F) by monitoring for evidence of food insecurity,
homelessness, neglect, and abuse, including with
respect to disadvantaged students; and
(G) personalized learning experiences,
accommodations, modifications, and technical supports
as appropriate for students.
(4) Implementing intensive supports, including--
(A) individualized intervention and support from
school-based professionals;
(B) by hiring such school-based professionals; and
(C) ongoing evidence-based and trauma-informed
progress monitoring of students and intervention based
on such monitoring.
(5) Providing professional development for teachers and
other school staff with respect to--
(A) developing a healthy learning climate,
including through positive classroom management,
enhancing empathy and respect, and promoting a sense of
belonging for students;
(B) integrating social and emotional learning,
motivation and engagement, and resiliency training into
classroom instruction and practices;
(C) the impact of adverse childhood experiences and
traumatic experiences on the health and development of
students;
(D) evidence-based and trauma-informed approaches
to teaching and managing student behavior;
(E) racially, culturally, developmentally, and
linguistically appropriate techniques for providing
more agency to students;
(F) implicit bias and restorative justice
practices; and
(G) racially, culturally, developmentally, and
linguistically responsive teaching.
(i) Evaluation.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall--
(A) not later than 1 year before the last day of
the grant period described in subsection (f), enter
into a contract with a nationally-recognized
educational evaluation institution or organization; and
(B) not later than 1 year after the conclusion of
the grant period described in subsection (f),
coordinate with such institution or organization to
provide an evaluation of the pilot grant program,
including--
(i) a determination with respect to the
sufficient ratio of school-based professionals
to students;
(ii) information with respect to the
practices used by local educational agencies to
improve the mental and behavioral well-being of
students;
(iii) information with respect to increased
competencies among teachers and other school
staff on social and emotional learning and
trauma-informed practices;
(iv) data on the mental and behavioral
health outcomes of students, in the aggregate
and disaggregated by--
(I) race and ethnicity;
(II) gender;
(III) sexual orientation;
(IV) status as an English learner;
and
(V) status as a student with a
disability; and
(v) a recommendation as to whether such
program should be continued or expanded.
(2) Publication.--The Secretary shall make the evaluation
required under paragraph (1) publicly available on the website
of the Department.
(3) Report.--Not later than 60 days after the completion of
the evaluation required under paragraph (1), the Secretary
shall submit to Congress a report on the outcome of the pilot
grant program, including a recommendation with respect to
continuing or expanding the program.
(j) Continuation of Program.--
(1) Applications.--If the evaluation required under
subsection (i)(1) contains a recommendation that the pilot
grant program should be continued or expanded, the Secretary--
(A) may continue or expand such program; and
(B) if such program is expanded or continued--
(i) shall allow a local educational agency
that did not receive a grant under the pilot
program established under this section to apply
for a grant in accordance with subsection
(d)(1); and
(ii) shall allow a local educational agency
that received a grant under the pilot program
established under this section to apply for a
renewal of such grant for an additional period
of 4 consecutive academic years.
(2) Evaluation.--Not later than 1 year after the first
grant is awarded or renewed after the continuation or expansion
of the program, the Secretary shall coordinate with the
institution or organization described in subsection (i)(1)(A)
to provide an evaluation of the renewal of the pilot grant
program.
(3) Publication.--The Secretary shall make the evaluation
required under paragraph (2) publicly available on the website
of the Department.
(4) Report.--Not later than 60 days after the completion of
the evaluation required under paragraph (2), the Secretary
shall submit to Congress a report on the progress of the
renewal or expansion of the program.
(k) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000, for fiscal year
2022, to be available until expended.
(l) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) ESEA terms.--The terms ``Department'', ``elementary
school'', ``local educational agency'', ``multi-tier system of
supports'', ``secondary school'', and ``Secretary'' have the
meanings given such terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act (20 U.S.C. 7801).
(2) School-based professional.--The term ``school-based
professional'' means a behavioral specialist or mental health
specialist.
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