AWSP Blog

With the return this school year to full Comprehensive evaluations with three Student Growth Goals, there is an opportunity to pilot Student Growth Goal rubrics for 3.1, 3.2, 6.1, 6.2, and 8.1.

Teachers and students alike recognize the importance of reducing the stigma of mental illness and the benefits of good mental health. Proven benefits include increased student productivity and, more importantly, reduced suicidal ideation. The stigma associated with mental illness has contributed to a well-documented eight to ten-year delay from onset of mental health issues and illnesses to delivered services, with many never even receiving care. While some students may now be receiving mental health education, systemic inequities also exist in terms of availability, delivery, and depth of content. Two obstacles largely contribute to this inequity.

Looking ahead, ‘21-‘22 is going to be a busy year. As we begin to kick it off, COVID still plays a major part in our school safety preparation efforts. Masks. Distancing. Hand washing. And that’s just the starters. Over the course of this year’s blogs, I plan to address several other school safety topics as well: school mapping, HB 1214, HIB, drills, equity, threat assessment, behavioral health, data requirements, and more. If you have a topic you would like to see included, please let me know.

It is wonderful to know that schools will be fully open in the fall! It has taken a lot of hard work and dedication on everyone’s part to make it through the pandemic. None of us has come through unscathed, but hopefully, we have come through stronger.

Building Changes is an organization whose mission is to “advance equitable responses to homelessness in Washington State, with a focus on children, youth, and families and the systems that serve them.” They recently shared an important planning document for school districts to use as they develop their Academic and Student Well-Being Recovery Plans.  In addition to significant amounts of federal funding coming to school districts to help with learning recovery and supports for students, there are federal funds coming to districts that are specifically designed to “identify, provide wraparound services to, and assist students experiencing homelessness in attending schools and participating fully in school activities.”