Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel joined a multistate coalition in sending a comment letter to the U.S. Department of Education, urging the agency to not limit schools’ abilities to support students’ mental health needs and create a bureaucratic mess for districts seeking grant funding. The letter calls attention to the department’s proposed changes to its School-Based Mental Health Services Grant Program and Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant Program.
Following tragic school shootings in Parkland, Florida, and Uvalde, Texas, Congress funded these programs, providing mental health services in high-need schools, through 2026. The proposed changes from the federal Department of Education would unnecessarily limit the services school psychologists can offer, apply vague and unclear conditions to these awards, and impose requirements that may conflict with grantee’s existing obligations under federal law. Among other actions, the changes would further implement the department’s illegal decision to discontinue previously awarded grants – an action that is still being challenged by Nessel in court.
“Our state is already facing a severe shortage of mental health professionals in our schools,” Nessel said. “The Department of Education’s unlawful decision to eliminate grants that help fund school counselors, social workers, and critical mental health staff will only deepen this crisis, leaving Michigan’s youth with even fewer resources and support. I will continue working with my colleagues to protect these essential services for every student.”
Joining Nessel in sending the letter are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawai’i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington.
Following tragic school shootings in Parkland, Florida, and Uvalde, Texas, Congress funded these programs, providing mental health services in high-need schools, through 2026. The proposed changes from the federal Department of Education would unnecessarily limit the services school psychologists can offer, apply vague and unclear conditions to these awards, and impose requirements that may conflict with grantee’s existing obligations under federal law. Among other actions, the changes would further implement the department’s illegal decision to discontinue previously awarded grants – an action that is still being challenged by Nessel in court.
“Our state is already facing a severe shortage of mental health professionals in our schools,” Nessel said. “The Department of Education’s unlawful decision to eliminate grants that help fund school counselors, social workers, and critical mental health staff will only deepen this crisis, leaving Michigan’s youth with even fewer resources and support. I will continue working with my colleagues to protect these essential services for every student.”
Joining Nessel in sending the letter are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawai’i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington.
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