Education Secretary requests $578M to increase mental health support in schools.

Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona Prioritizes Mental Health Funding in Public Schools

Overview

Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona recently testified before the Appropriations Committee on his proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2024. The budget includes a $10.8 billion increase, with a significant portion allocated to increasing mental health services in public schools. Cardona emphasized the importance of providing wraparound support for students and their families, including access to mental health professionals directly at school.

Increased Funding for Mental Health Services

Cardona’s proposed budget includes an additional $578 million to pay for the increase in mental health providers in schools. This is in addition to the $1 billion recently allocated under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) to address mental health staffing shortages. Several new programs proposed in the Education Department’s 2024 budget also include earmarks for mental health services and programs in schools.

Opposition and Concerns

Some parent and conservative groups have expressed concerns that adding mental health workers to public schools is a tactic to make children wards of the state when their parents reject or challenge school recommendations for gender-affirming treatment. However, Cardona’s focus on mental health services in schools is aimed at addressing the youth mental health crisis.

What’s Not in the Budget

Notably absent from the proposed budget is funding for placing two armed guards in every public school, a proposal recently put forth by Republicans in response to school shootings. Cardona opposes the idea, stating that it would take away from the current efforts to increase mental health services in schools.

In conclusion, Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona’s proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2024 prioritizes increasing mental health services in public schools. The budget includes substantial funding for mental health providers, new programs for mental health services and programs in schools, and a focus on wraparound support for students and their families.