After the tragic school shooting in Uvalde, Congress came together to pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act — a law that included $1 billion to help schools hire mental health professionals and support students in crisis. That funding was a lifeline. Now, it's being taken away.

The U.S. Department of Education is halting those federal grants, which were already awarded to hundreds of school districts across the country. Schools used the money to bring in counselors and social workers, often for the first time, to meet the growing mental health needs of children still recovering from trauma, isolation, and stress.

This sudden decision means districts will lose critical staff, children will lose access to care, and thousands of jobs will be lost. It threatens the stability of schools and the well-being of the students they serve.

Mental health care for kids is not a luxury — it’s a necessity. These grants were never political. They were about protecting young lives and ensuring help was there when it was needed most. We can't afford to go backward.

We demand the immediate restoration of this funding. Our children’s safety, stability, and mental health must come first.

Photo: NEA