New Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act Aims for Student Safety

Text from H.R. 2739, titled the “Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act,” was received on April 8, 2025. The bill currently has 10 cosponsors.

Here is a brief overview of the bill:

This legislation seeks to reform how schools handle student safety and well-being, focusing particularly on marginalized communities. Here’s a summary of its key points:

Primary Objectives

The central aim of the bill is to divert federal funding from police presence in schools. Instead, it proposes investing in evidence-based, trauma-informed services tailored to the needs of marginalized students. The intention is to enhance academic outcomes by fostering a supportive and inclusive school environment.

Key Findings

The bill outlines several pressing findings, including:

• Schools have seen increased criminalization and surveillance, disproportionately impacting Black, Native American, Latino, immigrant, disabled, LGBTQI+, and homeless students.
• Despite a decline in serious school crimes, a large percentage of students still attend schools with police officers.
• Research indicates that police presence does not necessarily enhance school safety and may lead to higher arrest rates for students, especially those of color.
• Federal funding aimed at supporting police in schools has shown little evidence of effectiveness in achieving safety and security goals.

Restrictions on Federal Funds for Police

The bill explicitly bans the use of federal funds to hire or maintain police officers in schools. It aims to amend existing laws to eliminate funding for police presence through specific grant programs.

Support for Alternative Approaches

To support schools during this transition, the bill introduces a grant program that assists local educational agencies in:

• Replacing police officers with trained professionals such as counselors, social workers, and health workers skilled in trauma-informed practices.
• Creating school policies that utilize evidence-based methods for student safety that do not involve the criminal justice system.

Grant Requirements and Prioritization

Local agencies applying for funds must commit to removing police from campuses, either by terminating existing contracts or disbanding school-based police departments. Agencies that have already taken these actions will receive priority for funding.

Usage of Grant Funds

Funds obtained through grants must be allocated for:

• Hiring and training staff focused on mental health and trauma support.
• Implementing positive behavioral interventions and restorative justice initiatives.
• Enhancing professional development for school staff.

However, these funds cannot be used to support punitive disciplinary measures or install surveillance technologies to monitor student behavior.

Annual Reporting Requirements

Agencies receiving these funds will be required to report annually to the Secretary of Education on fund utilization, student arrest numbers, demographic data, and successful practices adopted.

Appropriations

The bill authorizes $5 billion to support its implementation and the outlined initiatives, striving to cultivate safe school environments.

Related Legislative Efforts

Here are additional bills recently proposed by Representative Ayanna Pressley:

• H.R. 2957: A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act for developing programs to improve outcomes for children affected by trauma.
• H.R. 2884: A bill aimed at investing in public health research to understand and eliminate structural racism and police violence.
• H.R. 2739: Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act
• H.R. 2738: Ending PUSHOUT Act of 2025
• H.R. 40: Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act

Representative Ayanna Pressley’s Financial Standing

As of April 18, 2025, Quiver Quantitative estimates that Representative Ayanna Pressley possesses a net worth of $1.9 million, ranking her as the 209th highest in Congress.

It appears that Pressley has around $0 invested in publicly traded assets that Quiver can track live.

For ongoing updates on Representative Ayanna Pressley’s financial status, visit Quiver Quantitative’s politician page dedicated to her.

This article is not financial advice. For more details, please refer to the disclaimers from Quiver Quantitative.

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