Federal Funding Cut for School Mental Health
Georgians are concerned after the Trump administration eliminated $1 billion in federal grants, mostly allocated for U.S. schools to hire and train more therapists.
The grants were funded through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, a law that was passed in 2022 in response to the Uvalde shooting.
The cuts have prompted safety concerns for education advocates in Georgia, especially since the state has a school counselor shortage. “This decision is deeply disappointing—and it’s dangerous,” said Layla Renee Contreras, head of the advocacy group Change for Chee.
The U.S. Department of Education claims the program promoted diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) agendas, which it views as politically motivated.
“The grants ran afoul of their intended purpose,” said Madi Biedermann, a spokesperson for the Education Department. The Education Department stated that the agency “plans to re-envision and re-compete its mental health program funds to more effectively support students’ behavioral health needs.”
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