Press Release  Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $3.2 Million to Support Students’ Behavioral and Mental Health

EVERETT — The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced today that it is awarding $3.2 million in continuation grants to 58 school districts to create or expand comprehensive, integrated systems of behavioral and mental health services and support for students. This funding aims, through collaboration with families and educators, to build strong local school partnerships with community-based mental health agencies and/or providers to create comprehensive mental health systems. 
 
In addition, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is sponsoring related professional development for school district staff.
 
“It is so important that we are supporting our students’ behavioral and mental health, and these funds will help our school districts do just that,” said Governor Maura Healey. “This investment will help students get access to the services they need to be successful.”
 
“We are grateful to the educators and community-based providers who are partnering and innovating to support students,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “When students have this support, it is easier for them to be successful academically and to build healthy relationships with their peers and teachers.”
 
This funding can be used to help strengthen skills to recognize and respond to mental and behavioral health challenges, establish cross-system coordination to improve integration of behavioral and mental health supports and foster seamless transitions between schools and communities, and improve data systems to track efforts and impact. These grants also promote piloting universal mental health screening systems. 
 
“We know that schools are facing many student mental health challenges as we continue to recover from the pandemic. Student well-being is essential to academic and overall success, and grants like these help address some of our students’ critical needs,” said Education Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler.
 
“Our educators are working to create safe and healthy learning environments that are joyful, engaging and equitable for every child,” Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez said. “These grants will help provide student supports that advance that important work.”
 
The FY26 grant recipients are:

• ACCEPT Education Collaborative: $44,910
• Assabet Valley Collaborative: $69,910
• Ayer Shirley School District: $44,910
• Bedford Public Schools: $69,910
• Belchertown Public Schools: $58,320
• Bellingham Public Schools: $44,910
• Berkley Public Schools: $59,650
• Boston Public Schools: $69,910
• Bridge Boston Charter School: $44,910
• Bristol-Plymouth Regional Vocational Technical: $44,910
• Brockton Public Schools: $45,000
• Burlington Public Schools: $69,910
• Chelsea Public Schools: $44,910
• Chicopee Public Schools: $70,000
• Danvers Public Schools: $69,910
• Dedham Public Schools: $44,910
• Dennis-Yarmouth Public Schools: $69,910
• Everett Public Schools: $45,000
• Excel Academy Charter: $69,910
• Fall River Public Schools: $69,910
• Gardner Public Schools: $44,910
• Gateway Public Schools: $44,910
• Gloucester Public Schools: $69,910
• Hadley Public Schools: $44,910
• Hampden-Wilbraham Public Schools: $44,910
• Haverhill Public Schools: $69,910
• Holliston Public Schools: $44,910
• King Philip Public Schools: $44,910
• Lowell Public Schools: $45,000
• Lowell Middlesex Academy Charter: $44,910
• Map Academy Charter School: $44,910
• Medway Public Schools: $69,910
• Methuen Public Schools: $69,910
• Middleborough Public Schools: $44,910
• Monson Public Schools: $44,910
• Narragansett Public Schools: $42,300
• Natick Public Schools: $69,910
• North Adams Public Schools: $44,910
• Norwood Public Schools: $44,910
• Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical: $44,910
• Phoenix Academy Public Charter High School, Lawrence: $70,000
• Quincy Public Schools: $44,910
• READS Collaborative: $44,910
• Rockland Public Schools: $44,910
• Salem Public Schools: $44,910
• Salem Academy Charter: $69,910
• SEEM Collaborative : $44,910
• South Hadley Public Schools: $44,910
• Southbridge Public Schools: $45,000
• Springfield Public Schools: $70,000
• Springfield International Charter: $70,000
• Taunton Public Schools: $70,000
• Uxbridge Public Schools: $69,910
• Warwick Public Schools: $69,910
• Watertown Public Schools: $69,910
• West Springfield Public Schools: $44,910
• Wilmington Public Schools: $44,910
• Winthrop Public Schools: $69,910

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