Shapiro's $375M School Mental Health Push Transforms PA Classrooms

Governor Shapiro has made student mental health a cornerstone of his education agenda, transforming how Pennsylvania schools address the growing crisis among young people. Since January 2023, the Shapiro Administration has made available nearly $375 million to schools for mental health and security needs—part of a broader nearly $3 billion increase in overall school funding designed to create opportunity for every student to succeed.

The investments have yielded measurable results on the ground. More than 800 schools have expanded access to mental health services, while school districts across the Commonwealth have hired more than 200 counselors since 2023. Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, who chairs the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, has championed the distribution of $90 million in non-competitive mental health grants available to school districts, charter schools, intermediate units, and career and technical schools.

Schools can deploy grant funding in multiple ways: hiring licensed counselors, social workers, and school psychologists; providing staff training; partnering with community-based organizations for peer and family support; and expanding telemedicine delivery of school-based mental health services. The state also invested $5 million in training school-based mental health professionals and establishing certification pathways through the Department of Education, while allocating another $5 million through the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency for the School Mental Health Internship Grant Program.

Looking forward, Governor Shapiro included another $111 million in his 2026-27 budget proposal for school safety and mental health supports—with $100 million allocated through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency as non-competitive grants. The sustained investment underscores Shapiro's determination to ensure every Pennsylvania student has access to the mental health resources necessary to thrive academically and emotionally.