Schools across rural northwest Connecticut are set to lose 22 school-based mental health professionals after a major federal grant was suddenly cut by the U.S. Department of Education.
The $8.7 million, five-year grant was awarded in 2023 to EdAdvance, a regional educational service center. The funding supported 22 counselors and social workers across 17 schools in the region. Now, with the grant being terminated in its third year, nearly $3.7 million in remaining funds will no longer be available.
EdAdvance officials say the cut could have a serious impact on student well-being. The organization sent a formal rebuttal to the Department of Education last week, according to Judy Palmer, EdAdvance’s Director of School Climate and Mental Health Services.
Funding to End in December
At the end of April, the Department of Education officially notified EdAdvance that the grant would end this December. EdAdvance CEO Richard Carmelich said the news came at a difficult time, as schools are in the middle of the academic year.
“The letter stated this grant no longer meets the priorities of the current administration,” Carmelich said, referring to the Trump Administration’s review of education programs.
EdAdvance has 30 days to challenge the decision. In the April 29 notification letter, Acting Assistant Secretary Hayley Sanon wrote that the grant program was inconsistent with the department’s values and goals.
Sanon said the program either violated civil rights laws, conflicted with federal education priorities, misused funds, or did not support student well-being as intended.
“The grant is no longer in the best interest of the federal government and will not be continued,” she wrote.
Advocates Push Back
Palmer said she hopes the Department will reconsider the decision after reviewing EdAdvance’s response.
“My hope is that they’ll agree to fully fund all five years,” Palmer said. “If there’s one thing everyone agrees on, it’s caring about children’s well-being.”
Local Impact: Student Behavior and Attendance
Scott Rossignol, a student and family collaborative specialist with EdAdvance, said mental health services play a direct role in helping students succeed academically.
“When students are in a healthy emotional state, they’re more open to learning,” he said.
Andrea “Rea” Tarsi, a school counselor in Kent and Cornwall, shared a story about a student who was frequently sent out of class due to disruptive behavior. The child was missing instruction, and his behavior worsened when outside the classroom.
Tarsi worked with him to understand the root of the behavior and found he was struggling to understand class material. Together, they worked on basic self-advocacy skills—how to ask for help and express when he didn’t understand something.
With those skills, the student’s behavior improved, he stayed in class more often, and his academic performance increased.
“He’s now a positive influence in the school community,” Tarsi said.
She also said increasing the number of mental health staff has helped reduce chronic absenteeism at Cornwall Consolidated School. In 2023, when she started, 20% of students were regularly absent. After one year, that dropped to 4%. This year, it’s down to just 1%.
“This kind of improvement happens when you have enough staff to build strong connections with students,” she said.
High Need, Low Resources
Fran Amara, EdAdvance climate specialist and a former principal at Northwestern Middle School in Barkhamsted, said the cuts would hurt communities that already have limited mental health services.
“There’s a huge need for adolescent mental health support in rural areas,” he said.
Amara also highlighted the success at Cornwall Consolidated, crediting Rea Tarsi’s work for bringing absenteeism from 20% down to 1%.
Lawmakers Call for Action
Connecticut lawmakers expressed deep concern over the sudden termination.
State Sen. Paul Honig, D-Harwinton, called the move “outrageous” and said it’s part of broader unexpected federal cuts to mental health services.
He warned the state may be forced to cover the shortfall as more funding gaps emerge in the coming months.
State Rep. Jay Case, R-Winchester, said he spoke with EdAdvance leaders and acknowledged the organization’s focus on meeting critical needs. He and Senate Minority Leader Stephen Harding, R-Brookfield, are working to reverse the decision.
“We don’t have promises, but we’re making calls,” Case said. “This funding helps children in our most underserved areas. It’s important we speak up.”
U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, a Democrat, said the decision is both illegal and immoral.
“This funding, from the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, helped schools hire and train counselors who served thousands of children in rural Northwest Connecticut,” Murphy said in a statement. “Now those kids lose support so Trump can push tax cuts for billionaires.”
U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes, D-5th District, did not respond to requests for comment.
Superintendents Julie Luby of Winchester, Mary Beth Iacobelli of Norfolk, and Melony Brady-Shanley of Region One also did not respond.
