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S 369

Relates to discrimination against vaccinated persons

2025 Regular Session Introduced by James Skoufis

Massachusetts would create a Whole Child Grant Program to fund school-based health, mental health staff, and wellbeing initiatives through a dedicated, ongoing fund.

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Bill Summary · S 369

Summary — S.369 (2025) — "Whole Child Grant Program"

Note on sources: The bill text supplied is a Massachusetts (Commonwealth) bill introduced by Senator Adam Gómez to create a "Whole Child Grant Program." Some metadata in the packet (alternate titles, sponsors, committee referrals) appear inconsistent or from other jurisdictions; this summary relies on the bill text as filed in the Massachusetts Senate (Senate Docket No. 1018 / Senate No. 369).

Purpose / Intent

Establish a recurring, dedicated funding mechanism and a state-administered grant program to support the social, emotional and physical wellbeing of students and educators in Massachusetts public schools. The program focuses on expanding school-based health and mental‑health personnel, organizational supports, and related professional development and policies.

Key provisions

  • Creates a dedicated fund

    • Inserts Section BBBBBB into Chapter 29: establishes the Whole Child Grant Program Fund, administered by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
    • Fund sources: legislative appropriations, bond proceeds, public/private gifts, grants, donations, and interest.
    • Money credited to the fund does not revert to the General Fund and is available without further appropriation to operate the grant program; DESE may request additional appropriations if funds are insufficient.
    • DESE must report annually (by October 1) to the Legislature and post a public report listing sources, expenditures, and anticipated obligations.

  • Establishes the Whole Child Grant Program (new Section 100 in Chapter 71)

    • Subject to appropriation, DESE (with Board approval) will create and administer grants to public school districts to support student and educator wellbeing.
    • DESE must promulgate regulations governing use of funds and grant administration.
    • Eligible uses (non‑exhaustive):
    • Hiring school nurses, counselors, adjustment counselors, licensed social workers, school psychologists, and other support personnel.
    • Staffing recommendations are to be developed by DESE; the bill references national recommendations (e.g., ASCA 1 counselor per 250 students; NASW 1 social worker per 250; NASP 1 psychologist per 500).
    • Implement elements of the statewide birth-through-higher education mental/behavioral health framework (chapter 140 of the acts of 2024).
    • Create policies and programs to ensure academic, social, emotional and physical wellbeing and safety (includes cell phone/technology access policies).
    • Provide specialized, role‑specific, research‑based professional development to create trauma‑sensitive environments.
    • Recruitment and retention initiatives that prioritize diversifying the educator workforce consistent with prior law.
    • Grant condition: districts must submit a plan detailing fund allocation; plans must be developed in consultation with employee organizations (text truncated in supplied version, but this collaboration requirement is explicit).

Who is affected

  • Primary: Massachusetts public school districts, students, educators, and school-based health/mental‑health staff.
  • Secondary: DESE (program administration and reporting), local school budgets (potential supplement), taxpayers (through appropriations or bond proceeds), and vendor/contractor organizations providing professional development or staffing supports.

Procedural / timeline highlights

  • Introduced in the Massachusetts Senate (filed 1/15/2025; read 2/3/2025).
  • Referred to Committee on Finance, then to Committee on Education per legislative actions; hearings scheduled (e.g., 07/21/2025).
  • Annual reporting to Legislature required by October 1 each year once operative.
  • Program implementation depends on appropriation and DESE rulemaking; staffing ratios and precise grant rules to be developed by DESE regulations.

Notes / caveats

  • The supplied packet contains inconsistent metadata (alternate bill titles and out‑of‑state sponsor names). This summary focuses on the Massachusetts bill text establishing the Whole Child Grant Program. The supplied text was truncated in places; final regulations and some statutory details will be determined by DESE rulemaking and subsequent legislative action.

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

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