Bethesda, MD—The National Association of School Psychologists urges passage of the FY2022 House Labor, Health, and Human Services (LHHS) Appropriations bill, which includes historic investments in education. Without restrictive budget caps, the Committee has made remarkable strides toward equitably funding our public school system, providing significant mental and behavioral health supports to students, and ensuring schools provide safe and supportive environments for all students. We are grateful that the LHHS subcommittee continues to value our public education system, and we look forward to encouraging the Senate to follow suit through their own appropriations process.

NASP is particularly pleased with the $1 billion within the School Safety National Activities program to fund new grant competitions of the School-Based Mental Health Services Grants and Mental Health Services Professional Demonstration Grants to increase the number of school psychologists and other school mental health professionals. This funding is a significant step toward the financial investment necessary for remedying school psychology shortages. NASP is thankful to Congressional appropriators for recognizing the need to address the lack of access that students have to mental health services in schools and supporting grant programs that have are already producing significant benefits for students, educators, and schools in their first competitions. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the rising toll inflicted on communities across the country as a result of police brutality, systemic racism, and structural inequity, meeting the mental and behavioral health needs of our students is more important than ever. 

NASP encourages this bill’s swift passage by the House and urges the Senate to adopt a spending bill that, at a minimum, includes the $1 billion dollar funding for the School Safety National Activities program grants mentioned above and reflects, at a minimum, the spending allocations noted below. 

• $50 million for firearm injury and mortality prevention research
• Mental health resources for children and youth, including $155 million for Project AWARE and $100 million for the National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative
• $26 million for the Zero Suicide program; $114 million for the Suicide Lifeline
• $30 billion for Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies
• $17.2 billion for Special Education, which includes $15.5 billion for IDEA Part B grants to states
• $2.3 billion for Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants (Title II-A)
• $1.3 billion for Student Support and Academic Enrichment State Grants (Title IV-A) that support availability of a well-rounded curriculum, safety and health programming, and the effective use of education technology
• $10 million for the National School Safety Activities Account to establish a pilot program that would provide competitive grants to states to develop comprehensive school climate and safety plans

NASP remains committed to working with Congress to ensure that FY2022 federal appropriations maintain critical investments needed to provide a high-quality public education, in an environment that is safe and supportive for all students.