Federal grants aim to fill school psychologist shortage in under-resourced schools
H.R. 3511 — Preparing for the Future Act · Filed by Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) · 2 cosponsors · Introduced May 20, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill creates a federal grant program offering $8,000 per year (up to $16,000 total) to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing school psychology degrees, provided they commit to working as full-time school psychologists in under-resourced public schools (those with fewer than 1 school psychologist per 500 students) for at least 4 years within 8 years of graduation. If recipients fail to fulfill this service obligation, the grant converts to a federal loan they must repay with interest.
Why we flagged it
The bill functions as a conditional grant-to-loan program designed to incentivize entry into school psychology and service in under-resourced schools. It is fundamentally a workforce development and student financial aid mechanism, not a regulatory or appropriations rider.
What the text implies
- The bill's effectiveness depends entirely on appropriations; without funding, no grants are awarded. The 'authorized to be appropriated' language creates no mandatory spending.
- Loan conversion and repayment terms are delegated to the Assistant Secretary via regulation, creating potential for administrative discretion in enforcement and reconsideration standards.
The full analysis lists 4 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
undergraduate and graduate students in school psychology programs; institutions of higher education offering school psychology degrees