This bill would add a new grant program to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to help high-need local educational agencies hire and keep school social workers. Grants would last up to 4 years and can be renewed. Funds must supplement, not replace, other funding. The goal in the bill is to reach staffing levels recommended by professional groups: one school social worker for every 250 students, and one for every 50 students when serving students with intensive needs. The bill allows hiring employees or, only when necessary and justified, contractors who meet required credentials. It defines a school social worker as someone with a graduate social work degree from a Council on Social Work Education accredited program who meets state and local credentialing rules. The bill lists many services school social workers must provide, including counseling, crisis intervention, trauma-informed care, social-emotional learning support, case management, home visits, connecting families to resources, and helping schools improve climate and policies. The bill also funds a national technical assistance center to evaluate programs, collect and share data, develop workforce strategies, and provide training and support.
The bill states its purpose is to help states and local educational agencies hire additional school social workers so students have greater access to mental health and support services and to meet the professional staffing ratios recommended by social work organizations.
No publicly available information.