H.R. 3534 — Mental Health in Schools Excellence Program Act of 2025

This section establishes the Mental Health in Schools Excellence Program, under which the Secretary of Education enters agreements with eligible graduate institutions to match up to 50% of a participating student's cost of attendance, with each institution providing an equivalent matching contribution via grants, scholarships, or other means. Each agreement specifies the contribution method, maximum amount per student, maximum number of students per year, prioritization of students who as undergraduates received Federal Pell Grants or attended minority-serving institutions listed in section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)) (i.e., HBCUs, HSIs, Tribal Colleges or Universities, Alaska Native- and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, Predominantly Black Institutions, AANAPISIs, and Native American-serving nontribal institutions), and other appropriate matters. The Secretary must publicize participating institutions online and conduct outreach to the prioritized students.

This section defines terms for purposes of the Act, including: (1) cost of attendance, as defined in section 472 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA); (2) eligible graduate institution, meaning an institution of higher education offering a graduate degree program accredited or approved for school psychology, school counseling, school social work, other school-based mental health fields, or combinations thereof that prepare students for relevant state licensing or certification exams; (3) institution of higher education, as defined in HEA section 101 but excluding proprietary institutions described in HEA section 102(a)(1)(C); (4) participating student, meaning an individual enrolled in a graduate degree program in a school-based mental health field at a participating eligible graduate institution; (5) school-based mental health field, meaning school counseling, school social work, school psychology, or other fields leading to employment as a school-based mental health services provider as determined by the Secretary; (6) school-based mental health services provider, as defined in section 4102 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965; and (7) Secretary, meaning the Secretary of Education.