,,ii #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #afdb ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,may #bc 7legislative day1 ,may #bb71 #bjai,mr4 ,tester 7for himself and ,mr4 ,blumenthal7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to increase the recruitment and retention of school-based mental health services providers by low-income local educational agencies4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,increasing ,access to ,mental ,health in ,schools ,act4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,best practices ,the term best practices means a technique or methodology that1 through experience and research related to professional practice in a school-based mental health field1 has proven to reliably lead to a desired result4 7#b7 ,eligible graduate institution ,the term eligible graduate institution means an institution of higher education that offers a program of study that leads to a masters or other graduate degree-- 7,a7 in school psychology that is accredited or approved by the ,national ,association of ,school ,psychologists' ,program ,approval ,board or the ,commission on ,accreditation of the ,american ,psychological ,association and that prepares students in such program for the ,state licensing or certification examination in school psychology2 7,b7 in school counseling that prepares students in such program for the ,state licensing or certification examination in school counseling2 7,c7 in school social work that is accredited by the ,council on ,social ,work ,education and that prepares students in such program for the ,state licensing or certification examination in school social work2 7,d7 in another school-based mental health field that prepares students in such program for the ,state licensing or certification examination in such field1 if applicable2 or 7,e7 in any combination of study described in subparagraphs 7,a7 through 7,d74 7#c7 ,eligible partnership ,the term eligible partnership means-- 7,a7 a partnership between #a or more low-income local educational agencies and #a or more eligible graduate institutions2 or 7,b7 in any region in which local educational agencies may not have a sufficient elementary school and secondary school student population to support the placement of all participating graduate students1 a partnership between a ,state educational agency1 on behalf of #a or more low-income local educational agencies1 and #a or more eligible graduate institutions4 7#d7 ,institution of higher education ,the term institution of higher education has the meaning given such term in section #ajb of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajjb71 but excludes any institution of higher education described in section #ajb7;a77#a77;,c7 of such ,act4 7#e7 ,local educational agency ,the term local educational agency has the meaning given the term in section #haja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja74 7#f7 ,low-income local educational agency ,the term low-income local educational agency means a local educational agency-- 7,a7 for which not less than #bj percent of the students served by such agency are from families with incomes below the poverty line as determined by the ,bureau of the ,census on the basis of the most recent satisfactory data available2 and 7,b7 that1 as of the date of application for a grant under this ,act1 has ratios of school counselors1 school social workers1 and school psychologists to students served by the agency that are not more than #a school counselor per #bge students1 not more than #a school psychologist per #ggj students1 and not more than #a school social worker per #bej students4 7#g7 ,participating eligible graduate institution ,the term participating eligible graduate institution means an eligible graduate institution that is part of an eligible partnership awarded a grant under section #c4 7#h7 ,participating graduate ,the term participating graduate means an individual who-- 7,a7 has received a masters or other graduate degree in a school-based mental health field from a participating eligible graduate institution and has obtained a ,state license or credential in the school-based mental health field2 and 7,b7 as a graduate student of a school-based mental health field1 was placed in a school served by a participating low-income local educational agency to complete required field work1 credit hours1 internships1 or related training as applicable4 7#i7 ,participating low-income local educational agency ,the term participating low-income local educational agency means a low-income local educational agency that is part of an eligible partnership awarded a grant under section #c4 7#aj7 ,school-based mental health field ,the term school-based mental health field means each of the following fields3 7,a7 ,school counseling4 7,b7 ,school social work4 7,c7 ,school psychology4 7,d7 ,any other field of study that leads to employment as a school-based mental health services provider4 7#aa7 ,school-based mental health services provider ,the term school-based mental health services provider has the meaning given the term in section #dajb of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #gaab74 7#ab7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,education4 7#ac7 ,state educational agency ,the term ,state educational agency has the meaning given the term in section #haja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja74 7#ad7 ,student support personnel target ratios ,the term student support personnel target ratios means the ratios of school-based mental health services providers to students recommended to enable such personnel to effectively address the needs of students1 including-- 7,a7 at least #a school counselor for every #bej students 7as recommended by the ,american ,school ,counselor ,association and ,american ,counseling ,association72 7,b7 at least #a school psychologist for every #ejj-gjj students 7as recommended by the ,national ,association of ,school ,psychologists72 and 7,c7 at least #a school social worker for every #bej students 7as recommended by the ,school ,social ,work ,association of ,america74 7#ae7 ,unaccompanied youth ,the term unaccompanied youth has the meaning given such term in section #gbe of the ,mc,kinney-,vento ,homeless ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aadcd;a74 #c4 ,grant program to increase the number of school-based mental health services providers employed by low-income local educational agencies 7a7 ,grant ,program authorized ,from amounts made available to carry out this section1 the ,secretary shall award grants1 on a competitive basis and after input from the peer review panel under subsection 7d71 to eligible partnerships1 to enable the eligible partnerships to carry out pipeline programs to increase the number of school-based mental health services providers employed by low-income local educational agencies by carrying out any of the activities described by subsection 7f74 7b7 ,grant ,period ,a grant awarded under this section shall be for a #e-year period and may be renewed for additional #e-year periods upon a showing of adequate progress1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7c7 ,application ,to be eligible to receive a grant under this section1 an eligible graduate institution1 on behalf of an eligible partnership1 shall submit to the ,secretary a grant application4 ,the application shall contain such information as the ,secretary may require1 including-- 7#a7 an assessment of the existing 7as of the date of application7 ratios of school-based mental health services providers 7in the aggregate and disaggregated by profession7 to students enrolled in schools in each low-income local educational agency that is part of the eligible partnership2 and 7#b7 a detailed description of-- 7,a7 a plan to carry out a pipeline program to train1 place1 and retain school-based mental health services providers in low-income local educational agencies2 and 7,b7 the proposed allocation and use of grant funds to carry out activities described in subsection 7f74 7d7 ,peer review panel 7#a7 ,establishment of panel ,the ,secretary shall establish a peer review panel to evaluate applications submitted under subsection 7c7 and make recommendations to the ,secretary regarding such applications4 7#b7 ,evaluation of ,applications ,in making its recommendations1 the peer review panel shall take into account the purpose of this ,act and the application requirements under subsection 7c71 including the quality of the proposed pipeline program described in subsection 7c77#b77;,a74 7#c7 ,consideration of panel's recommendation 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary may award grants under this section to eligible partnerships only after taking into consideration the recommendations of the peer review panel provided under this subsection4 7,b7 ,explanation ,in any case where the ,secretary decides to not follow the recommendations of the peer review panel1 the ,secretary shall provide a written explanation of the decision to the panel and to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,education and ,labor of the ,house of ,representatives4 7#d7 ,membership of panel 7,a7 ,in general ,the peer review panel shall include at a minimum the following members3 7i7 ,one clinical1 tenured1 or tenure track faculty member at an institution of higher education with a current appointment1 as of the time of service on the panel1 to teach courses in the subject area of school counselor education4 7ii7 ,one clinical1 tenured1 or tenure track faculty member at an institution of higher education with a current appointment1 as of the time of service on the panel1 to teach courses in the subject area of school social worker education4 7iii7 ,one clinical1 tenured1 or tenure track faculty member at an institution of higher education with a current appointment1 as of the time of service on the panel1 to teach courses in the subject area of school psychology education4 7iv7 ,one clinical1 tenured1 or tenure track faculty member at an institution of higher education with a current appointment to teach courses in the subject area of teacher education4 7v7 ,one individual with expertise in school counseling who works or has worked in public schools4 7vi7 ,one individual with expertise in school social work who works or has worked in public schools4 7vii7 ,one individual with expertise in school psychology who works or has worked in public schools4 7viii7 ,one administrator who works or has worked for a low-income local educational agency4 7ix7 ,one qualified and effective teacher who has substantial experience working for a low-income local educational agency4 7x7 ,one community mental health provider4 7,b7 ,clinical faculty member ,at least #a of the members described in subparagraph 7,a7 shall be a clinical faculty member4 7e7 ,award basis ,in awarding grants under this section1 the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 award the first #e grants to eligible partnerships from #e different ,states2 and 7#b7 give priority to eligible partnerships that-- 7,a7 propose to use the grant funds to carry out the activities described under paragraphs 7#a7 through 7#c7 of subsection 7f7 in schools that have higher numbers or percentages of low-income students and students not achieving a proficient level of academic achievement1 as determined by the ,state1 on the annual assessments required under section #aaaa7;b7 of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #fcaa7;b77 in comparison to other schools that are served by the low-income local educational agency that is part of the eligible partnership2 7,b7 include #a or more low-income local educational agencies that have fewer school-based mental health services providers1 in the aggregate or for a particular school-based mental health field1 per student than other eligible partnerships2 7,c7 include #a or more eligible graduate institutions that offer the greatest number of graduate programs in the greatest number of different school-based mental health fields2 and 7,d7 propose to collaborate with other institutions of higher education with similar programs1 including sharing facilities1 faculty members1 and administrative costs4 7f7 ,use of grant funds ,grant funds awarded under this section may be used-- 7#a7 to pay the administrative costs 7including supplies1 office and classroom space1 supervision1 mentoring1 and transportation stipends as necessary and appropriate7 related to-- 7,a7 having graduate students of programs in school-based mental health fields placed in schools served by participating low-income local educational agencies to complete required field work1 credit hours1 internships1 or related training as applicable for the degree1 license1 or credential program of each such student2 and 7,b7 offering required graduate coursework for students of a graduate program in a school-based mental health services field on the site of a participating low-income local educational agency2 7#b7 for not more than the first #c years after a participating graduate receives a masters or other graduate degree from a program in a school-based mental health field1 or obtains a ,state license or credential in a school-based mental health field1 to hire and pay all or part of the salary of the participating graduates working as a school-based mental health services provider in a school served by a participating low-income local educational agency2 7#c7 to increase the number of school-based mental health services providers per student in schools served by participating low-income local educational agencies1 in order to work toward the student support personnel target ratios2 7#d7 to recruit1 hire1 and retain culturally or linguistically underrepresented graduate students of programs in school-based mental health fields for placement in schools served by participating low-income educational agencies2 7#e7 to recruit1 hire1 and pay faculty as necessary to increase the capacity of a participating eligible graduate institution to train graduate students in school-based mental health fields2 7#f7 to develop coursework that will-- 7,a7 encourage a commitment by graduate students in school-based mental health fields to work for low-income local educational agencies2 7,b7 give participating graduates the knowledge and skill sets necessary to meet the needs of-- 7i7 students and families served by low-income local educational agencies2 and 7ii7 teachers1 administrators1 and other staff who work for low-income local educational agencies2 7,c7 enable participating graduates to meet the unique needs of students at risk of negative educational outcomes1 including students who-- 7i7 are ,english language learners2 7ii7 have a parent or caregiver who is a migrant worker2 7iii7 have a parent or caregiver who is a member of the armed forces1 including the ,national ,guard1 who has been deployed or returned from deployment2 7iv7 are homeless1 including unaccompanied youth2 7v7 have come into contact with the juvenile justice system or adult criminal justice system1 including students currently or previously held in juvenile detention facilities or adult jails and students currently or previously held in juvenile correctional facilities or adult prisons2 7vi7 have been identified as eligible for services under the ,individuals with ,disabilities ,education ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #adjj et seq47 or the ,rehabilitation ,act of #aigc 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #gja et seq472 7vii7 have been a victim to or witnessed domestic violence or violence in their community2 7viii7 have been exposed to substance misuse at home or in the community2 or 7ix7 are foster care youth1 youth aging out of foster care1 or former foster youth2 and 7,d7 utilize best practices determined by the ,american ,school ,counselor ,association1 ,national ,association of ,social ,workers1 ,school ,social ,work ,association of ,america1 and ,national ,association of ,school ,psychologists and other relevant organizations2 7#g7 to provide tuition credits to graduate students participating in the pipeline program2 7#h7 for student loan forgiveness for participating graduates who are employed as school-based mental health services providers by participating low-income local educational agencies for a minimum of #e consecutive years2 and 7#i7 for similar activities to fulfill the purpose of this ,act1 as the ,secretary determines appropriate4 7g7 ,supplement not supplant ,funds made available under this section shall be used to supplement1 not supplant1 other ,federal1 ,state1 or local funds available for the activities described in subsection 7f74 7h7 ,reporting requirements 7#a7 ,in general ,each eligible partnership that receives a grant under this section shall prepare and submit to the ,secretary an annual report on the progress of the eligible partnership in carrying out the grant4 ,such report shall include a description of-- 7,a7 actual service delivery provided through the grant funds1 including-- 7i7 characteristics of the participating eligible graduate institution1 including descriptive information on the educational model used and the actual academic program performance2 7ii7 characteristics of graduate students participating in the pipeline program supported under the grant1 including-- 7,i7 performance on any examinations required by the ,state for credentialing or licensing2 7,,ii7 demographic characteristics2 and 7,,iii7 graduate student retention rates2 7iii7 characteristics of students of the participating low-income local educational agency1 including performance on any tests required by the ,state educational agency1 demographic characteristics1 and promotion1 persistence1 and graduation rates1 as appropriate2 7iv7 an estimate of the annual implementation costs of the pipeline program2 and 7v7 the numbers of students1 schools1 and graduate students participating in the pipeline program2 7,b7 outcomes that are consistent with the purpose of the grant program under this ,act1 including-- 7i7 internship and post-graduation placement of the participating graduate students2 7ii7 graduation and professional career readiness indicators2 and 7iii7 characteristics of the participating low-income local educational agency1 including changes in the hiring and retention of qualified and effective teachers and school-based mental health services providers2 7,c7 the instruction1 materials1 and activities being funded under the grant2 and 7,d7 the effectiveness of any training and ongoing professional development provided-- 7i7 to students and faculty in the appropriate departments or schools of the participating eligible graduate institution2 7ii7 to the faculty1 administration1 and staff of the participating low-income local educational agency2 and 7iii7 to the broader community of providers of social1 emotional1 behavioral1 and related support to students and to those individuals who train such providers4 7#b7 ,publication ,the ,secretary shall publish the annual reports submitted under paragraph 7#a7 on the website of the ,department of ,education4 7i7 ,evaluations 7#a7 ,interim evaluations ,the ,secretary may conduct interim evaluations to determine whether each eligible partnership receiving a grant under this section is making adequate progress as the ,secretary considers appropriate4 ,the contents of the annual report submitted to the ,secretary under subsection 7h7 may be used by the ,secretary to determine whether an eligible partnership receiving a grant is demonstrating adequate progress4 7#b7 ,final evaluation ,the ,secretary shall conduct a final evaluation to-- 7,a7 determine the effectiveness of the grant program in carrying out the purpose of this ,act2 and 7,b7 compare the relative effectiveness of each of the various activities described by subsection 7f7 for which grant funds may be used4 7j7 ,report ,not earlier than #e years nor later than #f years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a report containing-- 7#a7 the findings of the evaluation conducted under subsection 7i77#b72 and 7#b7 such recommendations as the ,secretary considers appropriate4 7k7 ,authorization of appropriations 7#a7 ,in general ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary to carry out the program under this section1 #bjj1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbj and for each succeeding fiscal year4 7#b7 ,reservation for evaluation ,from the total amount appropriated to carry out this section each fiscal year1 the ,secretary shall reserve not more than #c percent for evaluations under subsection 7i74 #d4 ,student loan forgiveness for individuals who are employed for #e or more consecutive school years as school-based mental health services providers 7a7 ,establishment of program ,the ,secretary shall establish a program to provide student loan forgiveness for loans issued under parts ,b1 ,d1 and ,e of title ,,iv of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajga et seq41 #ajhg;a et seq41 and #ajhg;aa et seq47 to individuals who-- 7#a7 are not1 and have never been1 participants in the grant program established under section #c2 and 7#b7 have been employed for #e or more consecutive school years as school-based mental health services providers by low-income local educational agencies4 7b7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary such sums as may be necessary to carry out the program under this section4 #e4 ,future designation study 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall conduct a study to identify a formula for future designation of regions with a shortage of school-based mental health services providers to use in implementing grant programs and other programs such as the programs established under this ,act or for other purposes related to any such designation4 7b7 ,basis of formula ,the formula described in subsection 7a7 shall be based on the latest available data regarding an area served by a low-income local educational agency on-- 7#a7 the number of residents under the age of #ah in such area2 7#b7 the percentage of the population of such area with incomes below the poverty line2 7#c7 the percentage of residents age #ah or older in such area who have earned secondary school diplomas2 7#d7 the percentage of students in such area who are identified as eligible for special education services2 7#e7 the youth crime rate in such area2 7#f7 the current number of full-time-equivalent and active school-based mental health services providers employed by the low-income local educational agency in such area1 in the aggregate and disaggregated by profession2 7#g7 the number of students in such area in military families with parents in the ,armed ,forces 7including the ,national ,guard and ,reserves7 who have been alerted for deployment1 are currently deployed1 or have returned from a deployment in the previous school year2 and 7#h7 such other criteria as the ,secretary considers appropriate4 7c7 ,report ,not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a report containing the findings of the study conducted under subsection 7a74