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H 544

An Act to establish the Whole Child Grant Program

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by James Arena-DeRosa and 24 co-sponsors

Creates a dedicated Whole Child Grant Program Fund to fund public schools in Massachusetts for student and educator wellbeing, administered by DESE.

Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means
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Bill Summary · H 544

Summary of H. 544 — An Act to Establish the Whole Child Grant Program

Overview

  • Purpose: Create the Whole Child Grant Program to fund public school districts in Massachusetts in support of students’ and educators’ social, emotional, and physical wellbeing.
  • Sponsor: Representative Marjorie C. Decker (Cambridge); introduced Feb 27, 2025.
  • Status: Referred to the Committee on Education; hearing scheduled; reporting date extended to Dec 17, 2025.

Key Provisions

Establishment of a Dedicated Fund

  • Creates the Whole Child Grant Program Fund, a separate account administered by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
  • Funding sources to the fund include:
    • General appropriations, bond proceeds, or other money designated for the fund.
    • Public and private gifts, grants, and donations.
    • Interest earned on fund assets.
  • Conditions on the fund:
    • Amounts credited are not subject to further appropriation.
    • Balances at fiscal year end do not revert to the General Fund and remain available for program purposes.

Purpose and Administration (Chapter 71, Section 100)

  • DESE-administered grant program (subject to appropriation) to provide funds to public school districts to support social, emotional, and physical wellbeing of students and educators.
  • Regulations: DESE, with board approval, must promulgate regulations governing the program, including eligible uses and implementation standards.

Eligible Uses and Program Details (Regulatory Provisions)

Eligible uses include, but are not limited to:
- Hiring school nurses to meet Department of Public Health (DPH) School Health Services Unit staffing recommendations and assessing student health needs.
- Hiring school counselors in line with the Massachusetts Model 3.0 framework and staffing recommendations (at least one full-time counselor per approximately 250 students, per American School Counselor Association guidance).
- Hiring school adjustment counselors, licensed social workers, and school psychologists to meet recommended staffing levels (e.g., one psychologist per 500 students, standard benchmarks for other roles).
- Hiring additional personnel to directly support student wellbeing (education support professionals, etc.).
- Implementing elements of the statewide birth-through-higher-education framework for mental and behavioral health.
- Developing policies and programs to ensure wellbeing and safety for students and educators.
- Providing ongoing, targeted professional development for educators to foster trauma-sensitive environments.
- Developing policies related to student access to cell phones and other devices and social media during the school day and on school grounds.
- Recruitment and retention programs to fill these positions, with emphasis on diversifying the workforce to reflect underrepresented populations (consistent with existing law).

Funding, Expenditures, and Oversight

  • Annual reporting: By October 1 each year, DESE must report to the House and Senate clerks, the Joint Committee on Education, and Ways and Means about:
    • Source and amount of funds received.
    • Expenditures from the fund.
    • Anticipated funding obligations for the next fiscal year.
    • The report must be publicly available on DESE’s website.
  • Funding sufficiency: If funds are insufficient to fully fund the grant, DESE must request additional appropriations from the House and Senate Ways and Means committees.

Timeline and Procedural Notes

  • Filed: January 15, 2025 (House Docket No. 2223).
  • Hearing: Scheduled for July 21, 2025 (Gardner Auditorium), 11:00 AM–5:00 PM (subject to scheduling).
  • Reporting date extension: Extended to Wednesday, December 17, 2025.
  • Legislative actions: Referred to Education on Feb 27, 2025; Senate concurrence also noted.
  • Related Bills: HD 2223 (the related or replacing measure).

Impacts and Beneficiaries

  • Beneficiaries: Public school districts, students, and educators across Massachusetts.
  • Expected impacts: Increased access to health, counseling, and support staff; improved mental health and safety frameworks; enhanced professional development; policies governing technology use; and a strengthened pipeline for recruiting diverse educational professionals.

Notes

  • The text provided is partial; core elements describe establishment of a dedicated fund, program purpose, broad eligible uses, regulatory framework, and annual reporting requirements. Further details in the full bill would specify exact grant formulas, application processes, and local matching or eligibility criteria.

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

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