Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act

HR 8524, the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act, provides federal grants to help high-need schools hire more mental health staff. It requires states to use these funds to support local schools in meeting specific staffing ratios: no more than 250 students per school counselor or social worker, and 500 students per school psychologist. Schools receiving funds must report annually on staffing levels and progress toward these ratios, with the goal of increasing access to school-based mental health services for students. The bill directly affects public elementary and secondary schools identified as "high-need" under existing law.