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Bill

HD 2223

An Act to establish the Whole Child Grant Program

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by James Arena-DeRosa and 13 co-sponsors

Massachusetts bill creates grant program funding schools to provide integrated academic, health, and mental health services addressing whole student development and removing barriers to learning.

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Bill Summary · HD 2223

Legislative bill overview

HD 2223 establishes the Whole Child Grant Program in Massachusetts, designed to provide comprehensive support services for students that address academic, physical, mental health, and social-emotional needs. The bill authorizes funding and creates a framework for schools to implement integrated, holistic approaches to student development rather than fragmented, siloed services.

Why is this important

Student outcomes depend on far more than classroom instruction—poverty, trauma, food insecurity, and untreated mental health issues directly undermine academic performance. This bill represents a policy shift toward preventing these barriers before they derail students, potentially reducing long-term costs associated with academic failure, dropout, and social services intervention.

Potential points of contention

  • Funding and fiscal impact: The bill's cost, funding source (state vs. local), and whether it requires new taxation or reallocates existing education budgets remains a key question
  • Implementation burden: Schools already stretched thin may struggle to coordinate "whole child" services; questions exist about whether sufficient staffing and training resources are provided
  • Scope creep: Critics may argue schools are being tasked with social services beyond their core educational mission, while supporters counter that schools cannot ignore barriers to learning

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

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