On June 22, some visitors to our website experienced an unauthorized CAPTCHA prompt due to a temporary security issue. The issue has been resolved, and we continue to investigate the incident. If you encountered the unauthorized CAPTCHA and were prompted to download software, run a command, or take additional actions on your device, we recommend contacting your organization's IT support team or a trusted technology professional for guidance.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact us at extsecops@ecs.org.

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

A subheading that provides more information or a call to action.

Featured

Topic

Policy Levers to Advance Credential Transparency

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Elit et cursus pharetra neque eu. Netus praesent scelerisque sit quis elit amet tincidunt ultrices.

Policy Brief

Six Policy Priority Areas Prepare State Leaders for Impact

As state education leaders face changing contexts, Education Commission of the States developed six policy priority areas to serve state policymakers' most critical needs. These policy priority areas will inform our organization’s work over the next two years.

Governors’ Top Education Priorities in 2025 State of the State Addresses

In a critical year for state education policy, State of the State addresses offer time for new and incumbent governors to outline policy priorities and elevate successes. For the past […]

State Policies to Support Education for Youth Impacted by the Justice System

K-12 students who are impacted by the justice system — particularly those in residential placement — face barriers related to a lack of coordination between state agencies, inadequate access to […]

Ed Note Blog Posts

A subheading that provides more information or a call to action.

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 […]

K-12 Postsecondary

Recent Legislative Trends Addressing the Ongoing Suicide Crisis

This September, during National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, we reflect on the current state of students’ mental health and the ongoing suicide health crisis. Recent research shows that hospitals across the country saw […]

K-12

Using Holocaust Education to Develop Tolerance, Empathy in Schools

Holocaust survivor, author and activist Elie Wiesel is quoted saying, “Once I thought that antisemitism had ended; Today it is clear to me that it will probably never end.” Antisemitism has […]

K-12

3 State Policy Levers to Support Teacher Mental Health

With teacher appreciation week only a few weeks behind us and mental health awareness month coming to a close, we have a great opportunity to reflect on a pressing issue in the life of many teachers — their mental health. […]

Postsecondary

College Students’ Mental Health During COVID-19

As the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted life and learning on colleges campuses across the country, concerns mounted about the potential impact on students’ mental health. The emerging data, however, are somewhat mixed with respect to the effects on students, especially with surveys that often capture a particular point in time. Still, state policy leaders seem to be paying more attention to student’s […]

« Previous 1 2 3 Next »

Policy Levers to Advance Credential Transparency

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur.

Policy Levers to Advance Credential Transparency

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur.

Policy Levers to Advance Credential Transparency

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur.