Our schools are critical locations where our young people develop essential functional and social skills, particularly in times of trauma and upheaval. School districts across the state have invested time and resources into student guidance, psychological and physical wellness, and cross-agency intervention systems, becoming trauma-informed learning institutions. However, our state agencies are precluded from informing them of known student trauma. When we deprive our schools of the necessary background information they need to protect and care for the Commonwealth’s young learners, we risk further traumatization of our 1.5M students, many of whom have experienced trauma, and undercut our +120,000 educators who dedicate themselves to the job of nurturing them all!
 
It is for these reasons that I plan to introduce legislation that would require school entities develop a comprehensive student mental health support plan, inform school employees and parents or guardians of the plan, and post the plan on the school’s website. To aid schools in creating this plan, the Department of Education would work with youth mental health organizations in Pennsylvania to develop a model plan which would include, among other things, recommended resources for student mental health support. Additionally, teachers in schools that educate students in grades six through 12 would complete four hours of comprehensive student mental health support every five years to better ensure that our schools and teachers are equipped to support their students in times of need.
 
Pennsylvania has previously worked to mitigate trauma that our children face, but now is the moment to fully achieve this goal. Please consider co-sponsoring this legislation and let us affirm our resolve to support every child in the Commonwealth.