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Study finds two-way link between school connectedness and teen depression.
Indiana adopts new third grade literacy advancement requirements.
Florida reports majority of students enrolled in choice programs.
Research & Practice
Journal of Youth and Adolescence: The Reciprocal Relationship Between School Connectedness and Adolescent Depressive Symptoms
Researchers conducted a meta-analysis to understand the relationship between adolescent depressive symptoms and school connectedness, defined as the degree to which students feel close to their classmates and teachers. 27 longitudinal studies were analyzed to examine this association. Results indicate that the relationship is bidirectional; prior school connectedness predicted lower levels of depressive symptoms, and prior depressive symptoms predicted lower levels of school connectedness. These findings suggest that school connectedness may increase adolescents’ positive emotions, as they develop an increased sense of belonging. Conversely, adolescents with lower levels of depressive symptoms may be more likely to experience positive moments in school, leading to stronger school connectedness. The results point to ways for schools to boost student mental health and social connectedness by designing efforts to increase student wellbeing and sense of belonging.
The 74: For Students With Disabilities, Suspension Not Just a Matter of Race and Gender — But Geography
In the 2022-2023 school year, 7% of special education students faced out-of-school suspensions. Newly analyzed IDEA data also found that Black students made up almost a third of suspensions, even though they represent 16% of students with disabilities. Additional data about the relationship between race and suspension rates vary across states. For example, in West Virginia and Pennsylvania, one in ten Hispanic children with disabilities were suspended for ten days or less. In South Dakota, 17% of Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students were suspended for ten days or less. Some families also reported “off-the-book suspensions,” where schools do not properly document suspensions past ten days, which could inflate these numbers. Suspensions are linked to a decline in academic performance, higher rates of depression, and a greater likelihood of being arrested. Educators suggest that children with disabilities are more likely to be suspended due to poor training for school staff, family unawareness of rights, school’s “zero tolerance” policies, and teacher and counselor shortages.
Policy
Chalkbeat: Maryland District Must Let Parents Opt Kids Out of Lessons on Religious Grounds, Supreme Court Rules
The Supreme Court ruled that parents in Montgomery County, Maryland are allowed to exempt their children from school lessons with LGBTQ themes if it violates their religious beliefs. Initially, in the public school district, the schools would notify parents when books with LGBTQ content would be used in class. However, they eliminated the process as school officials deemed it placed too much onus on staff and led to higher absentee rates for students. Parents who opposed the policy change sued the school district, citing a violation of their First Amendment protections for religious freedom. Critics of the Supreme Court ruling are concerned that it will lead families to refuse a range of “offensive content.” Montgomery County Public Schools is one of the largest school districts in the country and is known for its diverse student body. The ruling comes amidst several other court cases aiming to protect religious freedom in the classroom.
Chalkbeat: Schools Prep Students for Summer IREAD Test as Tougher Third Grade Retention Law Takes Effect
Next school year, Indiana will enforce policies that make it more difficult for students to move to fourth grade if they do not pass IREAD, the state’s third grade literacy exam. While in 2023, over 13,000 students who did not pass the test were allowed to leave third grade, lawmakers decided to implement this change over concerns about the state’s literacy rates. The law has more leniency for English Language Learners (ELLs); schools where ELLs make up the majority of the third grade do not have to comply with these new rules until 2027-2028, and ELLs who have learned English for less than two years cannot be held back due to their score. Educators are concerned that two years is not sufficient for a language learner to have on-grade literacy skills. Districts created summer school programs to support students with their literacy skills, improving their test scores and academic skills.
NBC Boston: New Guidance for Controversial ‘Timeout Rooms’ in Mass. Schools
The Massachusetts Education Board voted unanimously to limit the use of “timeout rooms” for the 2026-2027 school year. The ruling aimed to distinguish the difference between a timeout, which is allowed by the state, and seclusion, which is prohibited. The new regulation instructs that rooms used to discipline students must be unlocked so that students can leave the room if needed. School officials must get consent from the child’s parents and medical provider before placing them in timeout, which can only be used if the student poses a threat to themself or others. Feedback on the program is mixed. An employee of the Massachusetts Administrators for Special Education viewed timeout rooms as “critical” and said that limitations on their use will lead to more law enforcement action. However, disability advocates suggest that the policy will aid special education students’ well-being and academic access. Schools will have access to $3 million in grant funding to train staff on protocols in the next school year.
Around the Nation
Central Florida Public Media: More Florida Kids Attend a School of Choice Rather than a Neighborhood Public School
For the first time in Florida’s history, 51% of students are now enrolled in a school of their choice instead of their zoned public school. Four out of five students attend public schools of their choice, Florida Virtual School, magnet programs, or career academies. The number of students in private schools or homeschooled has also increased in the past year. Many families take advantage of scholarship options available; twice the number of students applied in the first two days of the application opening compared to last year. Government officials and community advocates in Florida have made school choice a central issue this year, and they believe “families are increasingly empowered to find the best fit for their children.” However, some educational experts assert that school choice provides less funding for public schools, which can harm some students. To address declines in enrollment, two public school districts have made layoffs and consolidated staffing in preparation for smaller class sizes.
The New York Times: At National History Day, Students Get Competitive About the Past
Annually, National History Day brings 3,000 students together across the world for a history competition. The program was founded in 1974, and this year’s theme was “Rights and Responsibilities in History.” Students were able to compete with any topic that interested them, ranging from Paralympics to Title IX policies. Entries, which include museum exhibits and websites, must take into account multiple perspectives, and the program aims to be nonpartisan. The five-day event also included musical parody performances about historical figures, button trading between state and country participants, and themed team costumes. Students felt a sense of community with fellow history lovers. One student whose group came in third place remarked, “You have to learn about the past to build the future. Plus, history is actually cool.”
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