Maryland is among 15 states taking legal action to stop the U.S. Department of Education from rescinding federal grants that pay for mental health services in public schools, state officials announced Friday.
The state’s challenge centers on a move by the department to eliminate funding that supports thousands of counselors, social workers and other school-based mental health professionals. Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown said the cuts would undercut services that many districts — particularly those serving low-income and rural students — rely on.
“Once again, the U.S. Department of Education is trying to eliminate grants that Maryland schools rely on to provide critical mental health and counseling services for our children,” Brown said in a statement. He described the action as inconsistent with a court order and said the state joined the lawsuit because the cuts would be harmful to students’ well-being.
“We joined this lawsuit because our children’s well-being should never be traded away to fit a political agenda.”
What the lawsuit says and who it affects
Maryland’s filing is part of a broader legal effort opposing the department’s attempt to end funding it says targets programs addressing diversity, equity and inclusion in some states. State officials say the move would remove roughly $1 billion in support that currently pays for school mental health staff and related services.
- Number of states participating: 15
- Estimated funding at risk: $1 billion
- Main concern: Loss of counselors and mental health services, especially in low-income and rural districts
Attorney General Brown framed Maryland’s participation as defending long-standing programs that help students access mental health care and counseling during the school day. The state joins other plaintiffs arguing that the department’s action disregards judicial orders and would leave schools with fewer resources to address students’ emotional and behavioral needs.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| States in lawsuit | 15 |
| Funding at risk | $1 billion |
Officials did not provide additional specifics about which Maryland districts would be most affected. The central argument from the state is that removing these grants will reduce the availability of school-based mental health professionals and impair services in communities that lack alternative providers.
The litigation represents the latest chapter in a dispute over federal education policy and the administration’s review of programs it says advance particular approaches in certain states. Maryland’s action signals the state’s intent to keep current funding streams intact while the matter proceeds in court.
State officials said they will continue to monitor the situation and coordinate with partners in the multi-state suit to defend the grants until the legal process resolves the dispute.
