The Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act seeks to address the significant mental health challenges faced by students by increasing access to school-based mental health services in high-need public elementary and secondary schools . The bill highlights alarming statistics, such as nearly one in five children aged 13-17 having a diagnosed mental health condition and the high dropout rate for students with mental health issues. To achieve its goals, the legislation establishes a federal grant program. The Secretary of Education would award grants to states, which would then distribute competitive subgrants to local educational agencies (LEAs) . These subgrants are specifically for recruiting and retaining school-based mental health services providers , including counselors, psychologists, and social workers, or for contracting with community mental health centers. A primary objective of the subgrants is to help schools work towards meeting nationally recommended student-to-provider ratios, such as 250 students per school counselor, 500 students per school psychologist, and 250 students per school social worker. States receiving grants must provide a 20% matching fund and ensure that federal funds supplement, rather than supplant, existing resources. The bill authorizes significant appropriations, starting with $5,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2027 , with subsequent annual funding as needed. Both LEAs and states are required to submit annual reports detailing the use of funds, the number of providers, and progress toward achieving the recommended student-to-provider ratios, ensuring accountability and transparency.