November 2023: AESA State Examiner
November 29, 2023
Each month's State Examiner covers four topics including Legislative Issue Monitoring, Statehouse News, National Reports, and Advocacy Tips. Each topic includes a brief introduction. To read the full article under each headline, click on the "+" sign next to the topic.
This month's State Legislative Issue Monitoring Report exams what is happening in statehouses around the country regarding student health and wellness.
Mental Health Issues Affecting Youth
The current state of student health and wellness necessitates attention from state legislatures due to the increasing mental health challenges faced by students. Recent data from the U.S. Department of Education reveals that more than one in three high school students reported experiencing poor mental health during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated school closings. This reality is reflected in increased chronic absenteeism rates and student discipline issues. Recognizing these challenges, the U.S. Department of Education allocated over $188 million from the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to support mental health and student wellness, emphasizing the importance of integrating mental health services into schools.
These factors have also led many state legislatures to prioritize initiatives that promote student mental health and wellness to ensure a conducive learning environment and overall well-being. In fact, the Education Commission of the States (ECS) has identified health and wellness as one of seven (7) key state-level policy priority areas to monitor in 2023.
Other policy areas include:
- Early Learning
- High School Transformation
- K-12 Finance
- Postsecondary Affordability and Finance
- School Choice
- The Teaching Profession
In the education health and wellness category, ECS has identified 231 health policy-related bills introduced in the 2023 legislative session across 45 of the 50 states, Washington, D.C. and U.S. territories. Those 231 bills are further classified by subcategories including:
- General Health (84)
- Integrated Services (3)
- Mental and Behavioral Health (56)
- Nutrition (19)
- School Clinics and Health Professionals (49)
- Suicide Prevention (21)
Majority of bills still pending in State Houses
Of the 231 bills introduced as outlined above, 79, or 34% have been passed and enacted and 14, or 6% have been vetoed thus far in 2023. That means 138 or 60% are still pending in statehouses across the country. The passage rate for mental and behavioral health (94%) and suicide prevention (90%) bills in the identified states reflect the relative importance and bipartisan support for these initiatives.
This legislative activity follows an active 2022 legislative session year, in which, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) 23 states passed 44 bills specific to mental and behavioral health in K-12 schools. It will be important for states to monitor implementation and impact.
To view summaries of the bills acted upon in 2023 (enacted or vetoed only) compiled by ECS staff, and other education-related data, go to: https://www.ecs.org/state-education-policy-tracking/
Other Resources
Other state government policy and fiscal resources to monitor education and education funding-related issues across the 50 states include the following:
- National Governors Association - https://www.nga.org/
- Pew Center - https://www.pewresearch.org/topic/other-topics/education/
- National Association of State Budget Officials - https://www.nasbo.org/home
In the Statehouse News: Education Finance and Policy we find representative examples (with links) of news items coming out of the states that may be of interest to ESAs and their client schools and districts. Below is a representative sample of news coming out of the states or impacting the states that will be of interest to ESAs and their client schools and districts:
In the Statehouse News: Education Finance and Policy we find representative examples (with links) of news items coming out of the states that may be of interest to ESAs and their client schools and districts. Below is a representative sample of news coming out of the states or impacting the states that will be of interest to ESAs and their client schools and districts:
K-12 schools improve protection against online attacks, but many are vulnerable to ransomware gangs – Associated Press - 9 November 2023
Minnesotans would save big with caps on child care costs - Minnesota Reformer - 20 November 2023
Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit Getting a Head Start on New Science Standards - The Daily Item - 24 November 2023
Alaska Head Start programs are watching a Biden plan that would increase salaries - Alaska Beacon - 21 November 2023
State agency makes record contribution to school libraries for 2024 - Wisconsin Examiner - 21 November 2023
Texas has approved new science textbooks, but advocates say they fall short on climate change - Houston Public Media - 21 November 2023
‘Opportunity’ knocked — and stayed: Successes and flaws of DC’s private school voucher program - K-12 Dive - 21 November 2023
Ohio ranks near top of states for school voucher spending – Cleveland.com – 12 November 2023
Apprenticeship programs are growing as the public sector faces workforce shortages - Route Fifty - 20 November 2023
Crafting a School Policy on AI? Here’s What Experts Recommend - Education Week (subscription model) - 20 November 2023
U.S. students among lowest in the world for AI usage, surveys find - Inside Higher Ed - 21 November 2023
With ‘science of reading’ laws, states eye turnaround in recent trends- Council of State Governments – 11 October 2023
Jefferson County Educational Service Center Secures $101,250 Literacy Grant for Preschool Education at Indian Creek Local and Steubenville City Schools – Herald Star - 24 November 2023
This month's National Education Reports highlights four reports:
- Pew Research Center Issues “Short Read” Report on Students with Disabilities in the U.S.: What Federal Education Data Shows About Students with Disabilities Across the 50 States.
- National Institute for Early Education Research releases, “The State(s) of Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education: Looking at Equity”
- Mental Health America Releases 2023 State Rankings
- Fordham Institute Issues Report and Recommendations on Modernizing the Traditional School District in Ohio: How state lawmakers can strengthen local accountability and drive higher performance.
AESA monitors national reports highlighting state-level information of interest to ESAs. As always, it is important to view these reports through a critical lens with attention to research design, methodology, data sources and citations, and peer review and publication venue. The latest reports of interest are highlighted below:
Pew Research Center Issues “Short Read” Report on Students with Disabilities in the U.S.: What Federal Education Data Shows About Students with Disabilities Across the 50 States.
In July 2023, Pew Research Center released a report on the status of special education in the United States. According to Pew, Public K-12 schools in the United States educate about 7.3 million students with disabilities – a number that has grown over the last few decades. Disabled students ages 3 to 21 are served under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which guarantees them the right to free public education and appropriate special education services. Pew offered some key facts about public school students with disabilities, based on the latest data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).
For more information go to: https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/07/24/what-federal-education-data-shows-about-students-with-disabilities-in-the-us/
National Institute for Early Education Research releases, “The State(s) of Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education: Looking at Equity”
This report is the first equity-focused report to look state-by-state at the two federally funded programs for young children with disabilities. The report investigates variations in access to (1) Early Intervention (EI) for children birth to age 3 and (2) Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) for children 3 to 5 not yet in kindergarten. Researchers primarily examine data from the 2020-2021 school year but also examine trends from 2005-2006 to 2020-2021.
For more information go to: https://nieer.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/SE_FullReport.pdf
Mental Health America Releases 2023 State Rankings
Mental Health America (MHA) is a leading national nonprofit dedicated to the promotion of mental health, well-being, and illness prevention. MHA is committed to promoting mental health as a critical part of overall wellness and advocates for prevention services for all, early identification and intervention for those at risk, integrated services, care and treatment for those who need them, and recovery as the goal.
According to the 2023 report findings, 59.8% of youth with major depression do not receive any mental health treatment. Nationally, only 28% of youth with severe depression receive some consistent treatment (7-25+ visits in a year). Most (57.3%) youth with severe depression do not receive any care. And, Only .718 percent of students are identified with emotional disturbance for an individualized education program (IEP). IEPs, with sufficient resources for schools and teachers, are critical for ensuring that youth with disabilities can receive the individualized services, supports, and accommodations to succeed in a school setting.
For more information and state-by-state data and rankings go to: https://www.mhanational.org/issues/2023/mental-health-america-youth-data
Fordham Institute Issues Report and Recommendations on Modernizing the Traditional School District in Ohio: How state lawmakers can strengthen local accountability and drive higher performance.
The Fordham Institute report offers recommendations aimed at enhancing local, citizen-led accountability for district performance, while also loosening bureaucratic constraints on district leaders so that they can focus on what matters most: Lifting student achievement.
To access the full report go to: https://fordhaminstitute.org/ohio/research/modernizing-traditional-school-district-ohio-how-state-lawmakers-can-strengthen-local
In the inaugural edition of the State Examiner in September 2023, the monthly advocacy tip focused on influencing the state agency rule-making process. October 2023 followed up with the similarities and differences in influencing state rule making agencies and state legislatures. This month’s tip will dig a bit deeper into advocacy and lobbying of state legislatures and offers six tips to effective advocacy.
INFLUENCING STATE LEGISLATURES: Effective Approaches to Advocacy and Lobbying
Influencing state legislators’ involves advocating for specific policies or issues to influence their decision-making. Here are six effective strategies for successful advocacy:
- Context Matters: As they say in business, “Culture trumps strategy every time.” The same is true in advocacy. Context – the current culture in a state – will have a direct impact on the outcome of your issue. Understanding current context, political composition, etc., can help you to navigate political waters and accomplish the desired outcomes.
- Relationship Building: Establishing personal connections with legislators and their staff can significantly impact your lobbying efforts. Regular communication, attending town halls, fundraisers, and other events, can help you build rapport and trust. Sharing stories, experiences, and data relevant to your cause can make legislators more receptive to your message. Often, the most important time to meet with lawmakers and establish relationships is when you don’t need anything.
- Research and Data: Providing well-researched data, facts, and statistics that support your cause enhances your credibility and strengthens your argument. Demonstrating the potential benefits of your proposal and its alignment with the legislators’ constituents’ needs can be persuasive. Reliable information can counter opposing arguments and make your case more compelling. Self-reported data, particularly at the programmatic level, can be compelling; when possible, though, use publicly available state-level data for comparative purposes to demonstrate overall impact or need.
- Coalition Building: Forming alliances with like-minded organizations, interest groups, and constituents can amplify your lobbying efforts. A united front can present a broader and more influential voice, showcasing widespread support for your cause. Collaborating with diverse partners can also help you cover different angles and expertise, making your advocacy more comprehensive. The most effective education-focused coalitions often include cross-sector representation from external partners outside of one’s area of interest including members of the business community.
- Strategic Communication: Crafting clear and concise messages is crucial. Tailor your message to resonate with legislators’ priorities and the interests of their constituents. Presenting solutions that address specific concerns can make your proposal more appealing. Utilizing various communication channels, such as emails, phone calls, social media, and in-person meetings, can maximize your impact. Developing talking points inside of a broader advocacy campaign and sharing those with those within your organization or coalition can help support a clear, consistent and unified voice.
- Grassroots Engagement: Mobilizing constituents to engage with legislators can be a powerful lobbying strategy. Encouraging citizens to write letters, make phone calls, or attend meetings can demonstrate widespread public support for your cause. Legislators often value the opinions of their constituents, and a groundswell of local voices can influence their decisions. Grassroots engagement grows out of one’s organization and coalition building and should be supported through consistent and strategic communications within an overall advocacy campaign.
Effective advocacy strategies often involve building relationships, backing arguments with solid research, leveraging the strength of coalitions, tailoring messages, and engaging constituents. It often requires a multifaceted approach that combines personal connections, evidence-based arguments, collective efforts, strategic communication, and grassroots involvement.
By employing the basic strategies outlined above, one can enhance their ability to influence state legislators and promote positive change.