Attorney General Clark Joins Multistate Amicus Brief Defending School-Based Mental Health Services

Attorney General Charity Clark todayannounced thatVermont has joined a multistate coalition in filing an amicus brief to support schools across the country facing the sudden announcement of impending loss of federal mental health funding.

The brief is in support of a lawsuit brought by a school district in New Mexico that is challenging the U.S. Department of Education's decision to terminate critical grants established under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. Filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico, the amicus brief highlights the urgent need to preserve access to school-based mental health services-particularly in underserved and rural communities.

At the heart of the brief is a warning about the real-world consequences of the Department of Education's decision to terminate funding for school-based mental health programs. The affected initiatives-the School-Based Mental Health Services Grant Program and the Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant Program-were created to place more licensed mental health professionals in schools and to build long-term, sustainable support systems for students. States joining this effort argue that eliminating these funds midstream not only disrupts care but also undermines years of targeted investments to improve school safety, mental health outcomes, and student success. The decision to terminate funding midstream undermines significant planning and investment by school districts and could leave thousands of students without access to support services.

The amicus brief argues that the Department's action violates the Administrative Procedure Act, disregards federal grant regulations, and fails to consider the irreparable harm to students, especially in rural and underserved communities.

Joining Attorney General Clark in filing this brief are the attorneys general of Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington.

A copy of the brief is available here.

CONTACT: Amelia Vath, Outreach and Communications Coordinator, 802-828-3171