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Bill

S 369

An Act to establish the Whole Child Grant Program

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Mike Brady and 13 co-sponsors

Massachusetts bill establishes grant program funding schools and nonprofits to provide students with integrated academic, mental health, and social support services.

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Bill Summary · S 369

Legislative bill overview

S 369 establishes the Whole Child Grant Program in Massachusetts, a funding mechanism designed to support comprehensive child development initiatives. The bill allocates grants to schools and community organizations to address students' academic, social, emotional, and physical health needs through integrated programming.

Why is this important

Educational outcomes depend on more than academics—students facing food insecurity, mental health challenges, or unstable housing struggle academically regardless of teaching quality. This program attempts to address root causes of educational inequality by funding wraparound services alongside traditional instruction, potentially reducing achievement gaps and improving long-term outcomes.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost and funding source: No publicly available bill text indicates how the program will be funded; expanding state spending requires identifying revenue or budget trade-offs that may face fiscal resistance
  • Local control versus state mandates: Schools may resist prescriptive requirements about which services qualify for grants or how funds must be allocated, preferring flexibility
  • Measurement and accountability: Defining and measuring "whole child" outcomes is complex; unclear metrics could lead to inefficient spending or disputes over program effectiveness
  • Equity in distribution: Rural and wealthy districts may have difficulty accessing grants compared to urban areas with established nonprofit infrastructure, potentially widening rather than closing gaps

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

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