The U.S. Department of Education notified LPS that a grant awarded in 2023 to provide school-based mental health services would not continue past the current budget period ending December 31st.
An LPS News Release reports the district received the five-year $7 million competitive grant to assist in providing school-based mental health services to add 18 elementary counselor positions and increase mental health supports within the district. LPS was required to provide a 25% match.
Interim Superintendent Dr. John Skretta indicated LPS will appeal the decision and the program will continue for the 25-26 school year.
“This appears to be one of a broad swath of notifications delivered to public school districts across the nation based on the U.S. DOE’s assertion that the school-based mental health grant funding is not consistent with priorities of the current federal administration,” added Skretta. “Obviously the highly qualified and dedicated LPS team members filling these positions are providing critical supports to students, and we will advocate for reinstituting these funds.”
LPS has had a long-standing goal to provide a counselor in every school. Skretta said that goal remains unchanged and the district will continue to work through its annual budgetary processes working towards this outcome and other priorities.
LPS was not the only school district in the nation to learn the grant had been discontinued.