Washington has done well enacting some policies that improve school mental-health systems in the last year, while still falling short in other areas, according to a new report.

Natalie Gustafson, assistant director for Behavioral Health Department, northwest Washington Educational Service District 189, said the state has been making progress by implementing excused mental-health absences as well as alternatives to suspension.

"There's been initiatives to increase hours of training around social emotional learning, around trauma informed practices, around suicide prevention," she said.

Created by mental-health advocacy group Inseparable, the report shows investments in school-based mental-health supports across the country are having a positive impact on youths. But, there is still more to be done to quell the youth mental-health crisis, as data shows 1 in 6 young people experience a mental-health disorder each year.

Caitlin Hochul, vice president for public policy for the group Inseparable, said it recommends a three-tiered system of support, ranging from teaching mental health education to all students to one-on-one counseling, to more intensive attention for students who need it.

"So it's really helped to capture the full spectrum of kids from just giving them the resiliency and life skills that they need to helping those who need some additional supports," she explained.

Gustafson added that Washington schools still struggle to hire the staff they need, so they are getting creative by partnering with educational service districts and other organizations, as well as relying on grant money. Gustafson compares it to stitching together a patchwork quilt of programming and supports.

"And at the other end of the quilt, things are starting to unravel because we know we're, like, 'Oh, we have two more years of this grant and we have three more years of this grant,'" she continued.

Schools that promote student mental health can improve classroom behavior and peer relationships, according to the CDC, which are linked to academic success.

Public education advocates are sounding alarms about the upcoming school year because the federal government is holding up about $60 million in funds for Nevada schools.

The Trump administration said it is freezing the money to make sure it aligns with administration priorities. The grants support after-school programs, help for English language learners and more.

Jiromi Peña, a former Clark County School District student and member of the nonprofit Make The Road Nevada, said the programs make a big difference for low-income families like hers.

"It's honestly heartbreaking," Peña explained. "I know what these programs did for me. I know how many kids depend on them to learn and to dream bigger. And to see Gov. Lombardo stay silent in support of these Trump policies? It's not just frustrating, it's shameful."

The administration has given no timeline on releasing the funds, which total about $6.8 billion nationally.

Jodi Manzella, executive director of the program provider After-School All-Stars Greater Las Vegas, predicted this fall, families across the state could be left scrambling for after-school care.

"We are unable to start our programming when the school year starts," Manzella stated. "We have over $11 million that are withheld that affect almost 12,000 students in the State of Nevada."

Rep. Nicole Cannizzaro, D-Las Vegas, the Senate majority leader, said she supports the lawsuit filed by Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford to force the release of these congressionally approved funds.

"There's no reason why any of these services are not a worthy investment," Cannizzaro contended. "We are left with no answers. The only thing we can do is try to figure out how it is we're going to manage these very significant budget cuts."


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Mixed responses continue to swirl about the new federal law offering tax incentives to people who donate to organizations providing scholarships to private K-12 schools.

School choice proponents are calling the Educational Choice for Children Act a win for all students, while opponents said the program will only benefit wealthy families. Starting in 2027, people who donate up to $1,700 to organizations offering K-12 scholarships will be 100% reimbursed through federal tax credits.

Brian Jodice, national press secretary for the American Federation for Children, emphasizes it is not a voucher program but rather a donor-driven initiative to provide families with more schooling options.

"It doesn't impact state budgets. It doesn't impact the federal budget," Jodice pointed out. "It allows people to donate to these scholarship granting organizations and get a tax credit, so (it) incentivizes the donors to go do that, which we think is a good thing. But then it also incentivizes families to be able to go apply for it and let their students benefit from it."

The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy said more than 138 million people nationwide could be eligible for the tax credit. It predicted about 43% will participate which would cost the federal government more than $100 billion per year. States must opt in to participate.

Illinois recently failed to extend its tax credit scholarship program for low-income families. Opponents argued the scholarships would benefit those who are already in private schools rather than providing an opportunity for lower-income families to switch from public to private school. In Chicago, families who make up to about $225,000 could apply to receive scholarships.

Maura McInerney, legal director at the Education Law Center, said the program is a tax shelter, benefiting the wealthy at the expense of the poor and public schools.

"We've seen this occur in other states and there's no accountability for these dollars and how they're spent," McInerney emphasized. "The only criterion for receiving a voucher is actually a high family income limit. So essentially this money will potentially benefit students who are already in private schools."

She added the program opens the door to discrimination since there is no oversight on what qualifications scholarship-granting organizations can impose on applicants. The program also does not have a cap, which McInerney said makes it especially concerning.

Federal law said the governor or a designated agency will decide if a state participates in the program. So far, Gov. JB Pritzker has called the new federal budget a setback for students across the nation which will increase barriers to success.


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Uncertainty about the current job market is influencing high school graduates' choices for a career.

Parents are generally the go-to for guidance, but a new poll suggests they have limited knowledge of post-high school educational options such as certification programs or apprenticeships.

The Indiana Department of Education reports that in 2024, Indiana achieved its highest-ever state high school graduation rate, at nearly 91%.

Jeff Bulanda, vice president of the American Student Assistance Center for Career Navigation at the nonprofit Jobs for the Future, said too often, family conversations about post-graduation plans occur too late.

"Young people actually really trust and rely on their parents' guidance," said Bulanda. "Ninety percent of young people said they rely on their parents' guidance when it comes to education and careers."

The Gallup Panel findings revealed more than half of families know "a great deal" about working at a paid job or earning a bachelor's degree. And just over half of all parents reported they "frequently" have those conversations with their high-school-age child, rising to 65% among parents with high school seniors.

Experts note without early and well-informed discussions, students are often forced to make life-shaping decisions on their own.

Working parents' schedules and not enough high school guidance counselors nationwide can add to students feeling unprepared.

Bulanda added that Jobs for the Future is working to build an online navigation tool to steer students to potential career pathways that align with their interests and inform graduates entering the workforce about the right questions to ask.

"Does this employer offer tuition assistance or some form of education benefit," said Bulanda, "where they may start in a front-line job but have the ability to earn money, as well as have their employer pay for their education?"

Bulanda stressed that today, fewer than three in 10 high schoolers say they feel very prepared to pursue postsecondary options.

He emphasized that the key is to take a step back and consider all potential funding sources at the state and local level, where short-term training program grants often help move students into in-demand careers.

The Indiana Department of Education reports almost 250,000 students enrolled in Indiana's colleges and universities for the Fall 2024 academic year.

Support for this reporting was provided by Lumina Foundation.