Rochester, Minn. — Rochester Public Schools (RPS) is set to lose a $1.9 million federal grant aimed at bolstering mental health support for students — a decision the district says will significantly hinder efforts to address rising concerns such as anxiety, depression, and suicide among schoolchildren.
The U.S. Department of Education informed the district on April 29 that the multi-year grant, awarded in 2023, will be terminated by the end of this year. The funding was specifically designed to help current school staff obtain licenses and advanced training to provide counseling services on campus.
As part of the initiative, the grant covered tuition for social work programs at Winona State University and compensated for substitute staff during the required internship periods.
RPS Superintendent Kent Pekel described the decision as a major setback for student mental health support.
“The termination of this grant is a big step backward,” Pekel wrote in a letter on Tuesday. “Thousands of students who might have received counseling and support to address challenges to their mental health, such as depression, anxiety, and thoughts of suicide, will not receive that support unless the U.S. Department of Education reconsiders its termination of this vitally important initiative.”
The Department of Education cited concerns that the district’s implementation of the program may have violated federal civil rights law or conflicted with its commitment to merit-based and equitable education. The department’s notice alleged that the initiative potentially misused federal funds and could negatively impact the very students it aimed to help.
Although the department did not explicitly reference diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, the critique appears tied to the district’s stated goal of increasing representation among mental health professionals. RPS reported that roughly two-thirds of program participants are staff of color — a demographic that more closely reflects the student body.
Federal scrutiny of DEI-related funding has increased under the Trump administration, which has moved to restrict federal support for programs perceived to promote identity-based hiring or training.
Superintendent Pekel emphasized that while the grant did aim to diversify school mental health staff, participation was not limited to any specific group.
“The program seeks to increase the number of mental health professionals in our school system who are underrepresented when compared to the demographic composition of the student body we serve,” Pekel stated. “However, it does not exclude people from other backgrounds and life experiences from participating.”
RPS plans to appeal the decision, arguing that halting the program mid-course would render a significant portion of the already invested taxpayer funds ineffective.
“Terminating the grant before those people finish the program is a strikingly inefficient and unproductive use of taxpayer dollars,” Pekel said. “Funds that have already been spent on tuition, stipends, and other expenses for those participants would be largely wasted because they will not be able to complete the credentials they need to serve in our schools.”
The district has not disclosed whether any contingency plans are in place to support students or staff impacted by the funding cut.
