In a decisive move against the Department of Education's recent budgetary cuts, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has thrown her weight behind a multi-state legal battle, as reported by Michigan's official news source. The lawsuit, supported by a coalition of 16 state attorneys general, targets the unexpected slashing of funds that were federally earmarked for mental health services in K-12 schools, a decision that seems to clash with the needs of numerous communities reeling from the societal impact of school violence and the mental health needs of students.
Following the tragic Uvalde shooting that left 21 dead, Congress, in a rare demonstration of bipartisanship, approved $1 billion to integrate 14,000 mental health professionals into the education system. During its inaugural year, efforts seemed to be paying off—the National Association of School Psychologists reported service to nearly 775,000 students, nearly 1,300 school mental health professionals were hired, and outcomes at high-need schools included a 50% drop in suicide risk, reductions in both absenteeism and behavioral issues, and, moreover, a significant increase in positive student-staff engagements. Yet, in an abrupt shift, the Department of Education deemed these funded projects no longer in sync with the priorities set forth by the Trump Administration, forcing a halt to this critical funding.
Michigan, along with other states, is now grappling with the repercussions of this decision, contending with an exacerbated shortage of school-based mental health practitioners due to the cessation of grant funds that were intended to bolster their ranks with counselors, social workers, and psychiatrists. According to Attorney General Nessel, "Mental health should be a priority for any administration – especially when it comes to our students," and she decries the funding cuts as not only illegal but also "irresponsible" and detrimental to the ongoing mental health crisis in schools, as she stated in the official press release.
By filing this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, the attorneys general argue that the Department of Education's actions violate the Administrative Procedure Act and the U.S. Constitution and have sought a federal judge to overturn the funding cuts. These cuts, they allege, are illegal under the law, and they have asked for an injunction to reverse the non-continuation decision, in the hope of restoring the lifeline once promised to countless students—the enduring presence of mental health support in their lives at school.
The legal complaint has gathered support from a significant group of states, including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin.
