Senate Bill 348 aims to enhance mental health training for school districts and independent charter schools in Wisconsin by adding social and emotional learning to the existing evidence-based strategies provided by the Department of Public Instruction (DPI). Currently, DPI offers training on three strategies: screening and referral to treatment, trauma-sensitive schools, and youth mental health first aid. The bill introduces social and emotional learning as a fourth strategy, thereby expanding the scope of mental health support available to students.

Additionally, the bill allocates an extra $500,000 to the DPI for each of the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years to support these training initiatives. This funding increase is specified in the fiscal changes section of the bill, ensuring that the DPI has the necessary resources to implement the expanded training program effectively. The bill is set to take effect the day after publication or on the second day after the publication of the 2025 biennial budget act, whichever occurs later.