Four Ways States Can Continue Building Mental Health Supports in Schools
October 21, 2020
Amid a steep rise in mental health concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic, many educators, parents, and advocates are calling on states to find new ways to address students’ needs and build long-term, responsive health resources in schools. A set of recommendations from the Education Commission of the States takes a look at four ways states and schools were already improving mental health systems prior to the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, including by amending their state ESSA plans to include mental health considerations in attendance policies and data tracking, amending state legislation to require specific ratios of health providers to students, and providing basic levels of training to teachers and school staff.