Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act

The Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act (S. 2125) proposes to shift the focus of school safety from law enforcement to mental health support. If passed, the bill would prohibit the use of federal funds to hire, maintain, or train police officers—often called School Resource Officers—within elementary and secondary schools.

Instead, the legislation would establish a federal grant program to help schools hire mental health professionals, such as counselors, social workers, and psychologists. These funds would also be used to implement trauma-informed services and reform disciplinary policies to move away from "zero-tolerance" practices and the use of surveillance equipment or armed personnel. The goal of the bill is to create a learning environment that relies on evidence-based social and emotional support rather than the criminal justice system.