Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE): Office of Safe and Supportive Schools: Mental Health Service Professional (MHSP) Demonstration Grant Program

The Mental Health Service Professional (MHSP) Demonstration Grant Program is administered by the Office of Safe and Supportive Schools within the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) at the U.S. Department of Education. This federal initiative addresses critical shortages in credentialed school-based mental health service providers, with a particular focus on high-need local educational agencies (LEAs). The program reflects a broader commitment by the Department to promote mental wellness and safe learning environments across K–12 educational systems. The primary objective of the MHSP program is to expand the pipeline of school psychologists and other qualified mental health professionals working directly in schools. Through competitive grants, the program supports efforts by state educational agencies (SEAs) and LEAs to develop and implement innovative models that increase the availability of school-based mental health services. These models may involve the creation of partnerships with institutions of higher education and community-based organizations to support recruitment, training, and placement of mental health providers in school settings. Funding from the MHSP grant may be used for a variety of purposes that support the overall goal of expanding mental health service capacity. Allowable activities include the training and hiring of school-based mental health professionals, the development of training curriculum aligned with school needs, and the implementation of evidence-based mental health services and supports. Although cost sharing or matching is not required, applicants are expected to clearly demonstrate how the funding will directly address provider shortages in high-need communities. Eligible applicants for the MHSP grant include SEAs and LEAs, as defined by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as well as consortia of LEAs. There are no geographical restrictions, and the program operates nationally. Applications must be submitted through the grants.gov portal, and applicants are advised to review the official application notice published in the Federal Register. A pre-application presentation is made available via the MHSP webpage to support applicants with the submission process. The application window for the current round opened on September 29, 2025, and closes on October 29, 2025. The Department will not extend the submission deadline, despite any external events, such as the recent court injunction involving related grant programs. All applications must be submitted by 11:59:59 p.m. ET on the closing date. Prospective applicants may contact Nicole White at Mental.Health@ed.gov or (202) 987-1594 for further details or assistance. The MHSP grant competition is part of a broader federal effort to ensure equitable access to mental health support within schools and to strengthen the workforce pipeline for critical student services. Awards are expected to be issued to up to 18 recipients, with total program funding estimated at $90 million. While specific award amounts have not been disclosed, applicants are encouraged to propose budgets that reflect the scope and scale of their planned interventions. The program does not recur on a fixed annual basis, and applicants should monitor the Department of Education’s site for updates on future opportunities.