New signals on belonging, peer support, attendance, and mental health funding from the last two weeks.
Week of 4/3/26
Mental HealthK-12 Dive
This Student-Led Mental Health Group Has Seen Promising Results So Far
Laguna Beach High School's Student Support Collective shows what peer support can look like when schools train students well and connect them to adult systems. The model aims to reduce stigma, increase connection, and help students spot when a peer needs more support.
79%
of students would feel comfortable meeting with a peer in the group, up from 58% the year before
94%
of freshmen said they knew where to find help after a bullying-prevention lesson
Why this matters
Peer-led supports can extend adult capacity without replacing trained staff. Schools looking for lower-cost ways to strengthen belonging and early help-seeking should pay attention to structured peer models like this one.
Schools Made Steady Progress Boosting Attendance With This Strategy Change
A new analysis suggests schools can make meaningful attendance gains with a simple shift: contact families early, often, and positively when students first show signs of missing too much school. The strongest results came in the first 60 days of the year.
~27K
fewer chronically absent students across 146 districts in eight states
0.7
fewer days missed by students from low-income families during the first 90 days
Why this matters
Attendance work still moves when it starts early and stays relational. Districts don't need a flashy new program — they need consistent family communication systems before attendance problems harden.
California's Success Coaches Support Academic Recovery, Relieve Teacher Workload
California's Student Success Coach Learning Network highlights how extra trained adults can help students stay on track academically and show up more consistently. Coaches support students flagged for attendance, grades, or other school-based concerns and free teachers to focus on instruction.
95%
of coached students graduated, compared with 87% statewide
56%
average improvement in attendance-related measures across two organizations
Why this matters
Many districts need student support now and staffing help later. Coach models can strengthen attendance and engagement while also creating a practical pathway into school-based careers.
States Say Education Department Not Following Mental Health Grant Orders
School mental health funding remains unstable even after court action. Plaintiff states say the U.S. Department of Education restored only six months of funding rather than a full year for previously canceled mental health grants.
16
states involved in the case tied to grants revoked in 2025
6 mo.
of funding restored instead of the full year ordered by the court
Why this matters
This is now an operational risk, not just a policy story. Leaders relying on grant-funded counselors, social workers, or training pipelines may need contingency plans for staffing and service continuity.
