The Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) works to improve the achievement of students in preschool through secondary school. The office also works to ensure equal education opportunities for all, and to provide assistance to state and local schools.
The MHSP Program focuses on providing competitive grants to foster innovative partnerships aimed at training school-based mental health services providers. The overarching goal is to augment the quantity and diversity of skilled professionals available to combat the shortage of mental health services in schools, particularly those served by high-need local educational agencies (LEAs). These partnerships should involve at least one high-need LEA or a State educational agency (SEA), along with one or more qualified institutions of higher education. A critical component of these partnerships is the provision of opportunities for postsecondary education graduate students in school-based mental health fields to gain practical experience in high-need schools. Additionally, the program supports the development of mental health career pathways starting from secondary education, offering career and technical education opportunities, or through paraprofessional support programs at community or technical colleges.