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Bill

HD 71

An Act establishing a grant program to increase the presence of mental health counselors in schools

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Marcus Vaughn

Massachusetts bill creates school grant program funding mental health counselors to expand student access to on-campus mental health support services.

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Bill Summary · HD 71

Legislative bill overview

HD 71 establishes a grant program that provides funding to school districts to hire and deploy mental health counselors in schools. The bill aims to address gaps in student mental health services by expanding access to professional counseling support within educational settings. This represents a state-level investment in preventive mental health care for students.

Why is this important

Student mental health challenges have increased significantly, with many schools lacking adequate counseling resources to meet demand. Increasing school-based counselor availability can improve early intervention, reduce crisis situations, and support academic performance. The program could particularly benefit under-resourced districts that cannot independently fund these positions.

Potential points of contention

  • Funding mechanism and sustainability: Questions about how the grant program will be funded, whether it's sustainable long-term, and if grants are sufficient to cover full counselor salaries and benefits
  • Implementation standards: Unclear whether the bill establishes qualifications, licensing requirements, or performance metrics for hired counselors, and how quality will be monitored across districts
  • Equity distribution: Debate over whether grant allocation formulas will fairly reach disadvantaged districts or if competitive grant processes may favor wealthier, more sophisticated applicants

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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