Priority 2: Build School Communities, and Support Students’ Social, Emotional, and Mental Health
My child is supported and set up for success
To create a strong foundation for students’ academic success, we must prioritize their social, emotional, and mental health. Here are some steps you can take to build safe, supportive, inclusive, and welcoming school communities this academic year:
- Assess the social, emotional, and mental health needs of students and staff
- Invest in effective strategies to meet students’ social, emotional, and mental health needs. Provide professional development for educators and staff to address these needs
- Invest in school counselors and mental health professionals in schools
- Ensure restorative, equitable, and inclusive approaches to school discipline
- Provide extracurricular opportunities to build school community and advance students’ academic and social-emotional development
Below are resources from the Department of Education and across the federal government to support these efforts:
Resources for Social, Emotional, and Mental Health
- Supporting Mental Health Needs of all Students with American Rescue Plan Funds [PDF, 306KB]
- Lessons from the Field – Addressing Student Behavioral Needs & Supporting Their Mental Health
- Fact Sheet: Biden-Harris Administration Announces Two New Actions to Address Youth Mental Health Crisis
- Lessons from the Field: How Schools & Districts are Meeting the Social-Emotional and Mental Health Needs of Students & Staff
- Supporting Child and Student Social, Emotional, Behavioral, and Mental Health Needs [PDF, 3.5MB]
- American Rescue Plan (ARP) Information and Resources
- ARP ESSER Use of Funds Guidance [PDF, 877KB]
- Frequently Asked Questions: IDEA ARP Funds [PDF, 238KB]
- Frequently Asked Questions: Using American Rescue Plan Funding to Support Full-Service Community Schools & Related Strategies
- Frequently Asked Questions: Civil Rights and School Reopening in the COVID-19 Environment [PDF, 1.4MB]
- Department of Education Best Practices Clearinghouse: Providing Supports to Students, Young Children, and Families
- Department of Education Best Practices Clearinghouse: Teacher, Early Childhood Provider, Faculty, and Staff Well-being, Professional Development, and Supports
- Department of Education Best Practices Clearinghouse: Equity Resources
- Title IV 21st Century Schools [PDF, 201KB]
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