Bill > H544

This bill establishes the Whole Child Grant Program, a new initiative designed to support the social, emotional, and physical wellbeing of students and educators in public schools. The program creates a dedicated fund administered by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, which can receive appropriations, gifts, and grants from both public and private sources. School districts can apply for grants to fund various initiatives, including hiring additional support staff like school nurses, counselors, social workers, and psychologists, implementing mental health frameworks, developing wellbeing policies, providing professional development, and creating recruitment programs to diversify the educator workforce. Grants will be distributed on a per-pupil basis, with higher funding rates for districts with larger proportions of low-income students (ranging from $50 to $150 per pupil). To receive funds, districts must submit detailed plans demonstrating how they will use the grants to supplement, not replace, existing funding, and they must collaborate with employee organizations in developing these plans. The department will monitor grant usage through an annual reporting process and can renew grants annually, subject to appropriation, assuming districts are making reasonable progress toward their stated goals.

Education

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H544