Student Health and Wellness

Each year, millions of children experience mental health concerns that affect not only their well-being, but also their ability to fully engage in the learning environment. Of children who access the treatment they need, at least 70% do so in a school-based setting — underscoring the role of K-12 schools in addressing student mental health.

Recently Published Resources

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Policy Levers to Advance Credential Transparency

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Policy Brief

Governors’ Top Education Priorities in 2024 State of the State Addresses

Every year, State of the State addresses offer time for new and incumbent governors to outline policy priorities and celebrate state accomplishments. Since 2005, we’ve tracked, analyzed and identified education […]

State Policy Strategies to Improve Educational Equity

In 2019, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) published its Monitoring Educational Equity report. In this report, a committee of researchers, policymakers and practitioners outlined a series […]

Addressing Health Disparities Through School-Based Health Services

This Policy Brief shows how states have enacted policies that promote school-based health centers and community schools to provide equitable access to physical and mental health services for all students.

Ed Note Blog Posts

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High School K-12

The West Virginia state capitol building around sunset. The capitol's reflection is captured in the Kanawha River below.

How West Virginia Is Addressing Student Self Harm and Eating Disorders

While health officials and state leaders are still working to understand the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on students, emerging studies suggest that time away from the classroom has […]

K-12

Nevada Teen Partners With Policymakers to Champion Mental Health

When Robert Barsel, a 17-year-old high school senior living in Nevada, began leading peer support groups, he could not have imagined the impact it would have on him. Reflecting back […]

K-12

What Can We Expect in the 2023 Legislative Sessions?

With new legislative sessions beginning, we can learn what education policy trends potentially await in the 2023 sessions by looking at which bills were enacted in 2022 and what early […]

K-12

Measuring Students’ Mental Health While Protecting Their Privacy

The COVID-19 pandemic’s full psychological toll on youth remains unknown, but alarming evidence of that toll — including a rise in suicide attempts — has education leaders scrambling to understand […]

K-12 Postsecondary

State Policies Impacting LGBTQIA+ Students in 2022

An estimated 22.5% of high schoolers across the country self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, questioning, or other identity. In 2022, many states have enacted policies that impact the LGBTQIA+ student […]

K-12

Affordable Health Benefits Are Key to High-Quality Teacher Compensation

When I worked for the Commonwealth of Virginia, I was offered a variety of health benefit plans sponsored by the state. All had great coverage options for different healthcare needs […]

K-12

Policymakers Continue to Address Suicide Prevention in 2022

Last September, Education Commission of the States released a blog post recognizing National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month and highlighting then-recent legislative action related to suicide prevention. Ensuring students receive […]

K-12 Postsecondary

States Address Period Poverty With Free Menstrual Products in Schools

An article by Medical News Today defines period poverty as a lack of access to menstrual products, education, hygiene facilities, waste management or a combination of these barriers. A national […]

K-12

Recruiting and Retaining School-Based Mental Health Professionals

As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a close, many are reflecting on the current state of student mental health and considering policy levers available to better support students in […]

K-12

State Approaches to Teach Consent in Health Education Classrooms

Last year, Education Commission of the States released a blog post for Denim Day and Sexual Assault Awareness Month highlighting state action related to affirmative consent policies for higher education […]

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