Attorney General Anthony G. Brown joined a multistate coalition in filing an amicus brief supporting a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Department of Education’s decision to terminate federal funding for school-based mental health programs, citing concerns about the impact on student well-being, particularly in underserved communities.
Per the news release distributed on Thursday, July 10: “Attorney General Anthony G. Brown joined a multistate coalition in filing an amicus brief to support schools 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 brief highlights the urgent need to preserve access to school-based mental health services – particularly in underserved and rural communities.
“Eliminating school-based mental health services means students have fewer counselors and therapists to turn to when they’re struggling with thoughts of harming themselves or others,” said Attorney General Brown. “Our Office will always defend resources that support our children’s wellbeing and oppose funding cuts that risk their health and safety.”
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 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.
In filing the brief, Attorney General Brown joins the attorneys general of Delaware, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington”
