 the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. This update expanded on the Department’s March 5, 2020 guidance and provides additional regulatory flexibilities due to the lawful declaration of the COVID-19 national emergency.
For Low-Income Students, COVID-19 Pandemic Compounds Barriers to Attending and Paying for Higher Education: Describes the obstacles for low-income students in paying for college and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This press release details the findings of the 2020 Indicators of Higher Education Equity in United States.
Leveraging Reset Opportunities to Help Students and Staff Thrive: Presents a set of practices for both school administrators who directly support staff, and for classroom teachers and other staff who directly support students, to step back, clarify priorities, and strategize improvements ( e.g. surrounding major school breaks). The selected practices, identified by the National Center for Safe and Supportive Learning Environments [NCSSLE] based on contemporary research, offers a starting set of practical ideas that individuals or teams of practitioners can use this tool as they consider how they might strengthen and refine current practices.
Classroom Well-Being Information and Strategies for Educators (WISE) Implementation Support Series: Archives eight implementation guidance sessions (July-August 2021) to support the free Classroom WISE training package. Each 1-hour session is recorded, and slides are provided. Classroom WISE has been developed by the Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC) Network, in partnership with the National Center for School Mental Health. The training package offers evidence-based strategies and skills to engage and support students with mental health concerns in the classroom. In addition to a free online course on mental health literacy for educators and school personnel, a video library and resource collection are also provided.
Social and Emotional Supports for Educators During and After the Pandemic: Asserts that schools and districts should prioritize social and emotional supports for educators to help them process the stresses of remote learning and adjustments to the “new normal.” This well-documented brief evinces the toll pandemic-related stressors continue to take on educators in 2021-22, and provides detailed recommendations to transform how educators are supported in their profession, not just during the recovery but also in the long term.
It's A New Era for Mental Health at Work: Discusses convergence of factors contemporaneous to the COVID-19 pandemic that are impacting and challenging mental health across our whole population, citing data on increased employee attrition, high incidence of mental health issues, widespread disclosure, and implications for diversity, equity and inclusion. The Harvard Business Review examines roles and responsibilities for employers, and offers recommendations for what employers should provide. “The future of workplace mental health demands culture change — with more vulnerability, compassion, and sustainable ways of working. We’ve already started down the path of culture change thanks to Covid-19. Let’s use this moment to be intentional and, instead of rushing back to the status quo of 2019, imagine what could be.”
Restart & Recovery: Leveraging Federal COVID Relief Funding & Medicaid to Support Student & Staff Wellbeing & Connection: Highlights how state and local education agencies can use federal COVID-19 Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds to support student and staff mental health and wellbeing. This guide, developed by the Council for Chief State School Officers [CCSSO], Healthy Schools Campaign [HSC] and National Center for School Mental Health [NCSMH], explains how to leverage these one-time-only funds to access additional funding streams, such as Medicaid, to ensure efforts are sustained. It offers a roadmap for strategic and sustainable investment that can help advance student and staff wellbeing and connection for years to come.
How to Grow Teacher Well