COVID Relief Funds To Support Student and Staff Mental Health

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need to address students’ mental health and emotional needs in order to help them learn and thrive. And the federal government, through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER), has allocated more than $190 billion to K–12 schools. A resource guide from the Council of Chief State School Officers offers advice about how to make sure those funds are invested in a “strategic, sustainable way that advances student and staff well-being and connection.” Because ESSER is a one-time source of additional funding, the guide encourages state and local education systems to build their capacity so efforts can continue after the money is spent. It also includes many examples of what states are doing to strengthen programs and leverage other federal funding that supports school mental health programs and services, such as Medicaid and ESEA Title I, Title II, and Title IV. Read the guide at bit.ly/3ZCM4zd.

Mixed Research on the Four-Day School Week

With growing discussion about the value of moving to a four-day school week, the online publishing site The Good Men Project reviewed research about how it has affected students, teachers, and budgets in schools that have adopted the model. The research is mixed, author Denise-Marie Ordway writes:

  • Although school administrators typically try to make up for the lost day by adding time to the remaining four school days, schools vary in terms of how they use that additional time.
  • Studies of the four-day week generally focus on a limited number of schools or schools in certain states. Unless researchers use a nationally representative sample, findings cannot be generalized to all U.S. schools on a four-day schedule. (Before the pandemic, the change was primarily in rural schools.)
  • A 2022 study that looks at four-day school schedules in 12 states reveals that student test scores in math and language arts fell slightly at schools operating an average of 29.95 hours per week. Test scores did not change at schools operating 31.03 hours or more during their four-day weeks, on average.

Read the article at bit.ly/3GRq0JI.

Illinois Principals Connect Through Podcasts

The Illinois Principals Association has turned to podcasts as a way to connect school leaders and enable them to learn from their colleagues. The association’s website includes nine different member podcasts that focus on many different aspects of the profession. Among the titles: “Wisdom and Productivity: The Podcast of an Imperfect Educator;” “Unsupervised Leadership: A podcast for fun, fab, & fierce females;” and “Be the Thermostat, Not the Thermometer.” The “Unapologetic Leadership” podcast hosted by Dr. Marcus Belin, an NASSP board member and principal of Huntley High School in Huntly, IL, covers topics such as equity, diversity, inclusion, school culture, student voice, and leadership experiences. Listen at ilprincipals.org/member_podcasts.

Celebrating Student Leaders

“Ready, Set, Lead!” is the theme of National Student Leadership Week, April 24–30. These past few years have pushed us all to discover new ways to keep moving forward. But nobody has demonstrated innovation and adaptability like our student leaders. They’ve navigated online learning and changing health protocols. They’ve pioneered new service project ideas and worked hard to keep our school communities connected. And they’ve done it all by charting their own path. So, let’s celebrate our amazing student leaders this week and every week for all that they do. Get involved by visiting studentleadershipweek.org for activity ideas, social media graphics, and more.