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Here are some of the things we’ve been reading about this week:

CDC says schools can expand social-emotional support for students. 

Across the country, parents, educators, and legislators debate whether to ban cell phone use in school. 

The Los Angeles Unified School District and the nonprofit Many Mansions provide affordable housing units for families. 

To read more, click on the following links.

Research & Practice

K-12 Dive: How can districts ensure students have enough social-emotional support?
An official at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says COVID-19 has made it harder to address students’ mental health challenges. However, there have also been encouraging efforts such as an increased focus on social-emotional learning supports to help students navigate isolation and personal losses. In addition, funding boosts and bipartisan initiatives like the CARE for Student Mental Health Act are also providing positive support. Despite this, data show persistent mental health challenges among students, particularly teen girls and LGBTQ+ youth. To meet this need, schools are urged to incorporate social-emotional support into daily activities, enhance professional development for teachers, integrate SEL strategies into classrooms, foster school-community connectedness, and promote inclusivity policies. Balancing academic recovery with emotional well-being remains a challenge, but proactive measures can mitigate mental health risks and support student well-being.

Sage Journals: Are Effective Teachers for Students With Disabilities Effective Teachers for All?
Researchers investigated the effectiveness of teaching methods for students with and without disabilities and found that current approaches are not inclusive and are not effective for all students. Their study suggests that policymakers should consider separate teacher quality measures for these groups. Using data from the Los Angeles Unified School District, the researchers created distinct value-added measures for teachers instructing students with and without disabilities. Surprisingly, some top-performing teachers for one group showed lower scores for the other. This mismatch highlights the need for better teacher-student matches, especially for students with disabilities who often lack access to highly skilled instructors. The study emphasizes the importance of tailored training for educators and urges policymakers to address disparities to improve academic outcomes for all students.

Michigan Medicine: 2 in 3 parents say their adolescent or teen worries about how sick days may impact grades
A national poll sponsored by the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital reveals parents’ struggles in deciding whether to keep their middle or high school-aged children home from school when they feel unwell. Factors influencing their decision include the severity of symptoms, contagiousness, academic obligations, mental health concerns and the students’ own school stress. The study, based on 1,300 responses from parents of children aged 11 to 18, shows that over half of parents prioritize safety by keeping their child home when unsure of their illness severity. Academic pressures also play a significant role, with many parents and students considering the impact of absences on grades and social activities. Furthermore, about one in five parents are open to allowing their child to take a mental health day. Despite the importance of school attendance policies, parents of children with chronic conditions face challenges in complying due to medical appointments and hospitalizations. Communication between parents, healthcare providers, and schools is crucial in ensuring support for children with health issues.

Policy

K-12 Dive: By the Numbers: The end of universal school meals hurt student meal participation
When pandemic-era support for nationwide universal school meals expired in June 2022, many schools reverted to charging students for meals unless they qualified for free or reduced-price options. However, several states, including California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Mexico, and Vermont, implemented permanent universal school meal programs to maintain this benefit for students. These states witnessed increased student participation in school meals. However, a report from the Food Research & Action Center highlights a decline in student participation in both breakfast and lunch following the return to pre-pandemic meal policies in most states. Between the 2021-22 and 2022-23 school years, there was a notable decrease in the number of students opting for school meals, signaling potential challenges in ensuring access to nutritious food for all students.

The 74: If Schools Won’t Ban Kids’ Cell Phones, Some Lawmakers Say They Will
At David H. Hickman High School in Columbia, Missouri, enforcing a no-cellphone policy during class proves challenging as students are “almost compulsively” attached to their phones, despite confiscations. While over three-quarters of U.S. K-12 public schools restrict non-academic cellphone use, enforcement varies. Florida mandated a ban, with other states like Indiana and Oklahoma considering similar measures. Proponents argue that removing phones enhances focus, citing research on digital distractions. However, some legislators opt for local control, recognizing diverse school needs. Clinical psychologists advocate for age-appropriate phone use, emphasizing engagement and resilience development. While high schoolers may benefit from responsible phone use, many parents assert phones have no place in classrooms, citing distractions and concerns about overreliance. Balancing student autonomy and academic focus remains a contentious issue among legislators, educators, and parents nationwide.

Around the Nation

The Salt Lake Tribune: Salt Lake City students can now see doctors, psychologists at West High — Utah’s first high school-based clinic
West High School’s new medical clinic opened its doors to eager students, providing physicals for sports tryouts and mental health support. Despite a soft opening, it served 100 students by the official ribbon cutting. The clinic, a first for Utah high schools, is open to all Salt Lake City School District high schoolers with parental consent, including middle schoolers in West High’s magnet program. Services include primary care, immunizations, and behavioral health services to address Utah’s high suicide rate among students. The goal is to promote academic achievement and personal growth. The clinic accepts most kinds of insurance, including Medicaid, and offers financial assistance. Superintendent Elizabeth Grant hailed the clinic as a vital resource, one that reduces barriers to health care for students. Supported by various sponsors, the clinic symbolizes a commitment to students’ holistic well-being.

The 74: Child Care Solutions Need to Target Most Vulnerable Communities, Report Argues
A report from the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute highlights disparities in early childhood access across North Carolina, especially in economically disadvantaged communities. Factors such as the Child Opportunity Index (COI) scores indicate unequal access to quality programs, particularly in the northeast. The report calls for targeted interventions to support vulnerable populations, improve quality measures, address poverty-level wages for childcare workers, and ensure adequate subsidy rates. It also emphasizes the need for better data governance and equity analyses to inform policy decisions. Recommendations include prioritizing specific communities, enhancing support for family child care providers, and leveraging models like Head Start to address disparities comprehensively. Action is needed to ensure equitable access to resources for all children and families, particularly those facing multiple layers of disadvantage.
See Also: Michigan’s Caring for MI Future Through Expanded Child Care Access

EdSource: LAUSD, partners provide 25 affordable housing units for district families
The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and Many Mansions, a non-profit, celebrated the opening of Sun King Apartments, offering 25 units of permanent, supportive housing to families of chronically homeless students. LAUSD School Board Member Kelly Gonez expressed determination to provide more housing opportunities for families in need. Superintendent Alberto Carvalho highlighted the importance of addressing poverty in the community. The apartments, located in L.A.’s San Fernando Valley, offer one, two, and three-bedroom units with rent based on a sliding scale. Residents receive support through vouchers and access to youth services. The project aims to replicate and expand similar initiatives to combat homelessness among school-aged children. LAUSD has initiated efforts to identify additional properties for similar projects. Carvalho emphasized the significance of providing stable housing for families and vowed to continue addressing homelessness in the community.

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