State Working on Plan for Emotional Needs of Students

Missouri is working to develop a statewide plan to help meet the social and emotional needs that K-12 public school students are struggling with. At a Missouri Board of Education meeting, member Kim Bailey says the coronavirus pandemic has intensified these problems. Bailey, a licensed mental health and trauma specialist, says the plan would build upon social-emotional learning standards put into place in 2015.

Member Pamela Westbrooks-Hodge says she fully supports the plan but emphasizes that these needs have been around for many years, especially among poor and marginalized students. Bailey suggests reconvening a workgroup to come up with recommendations on an overall plan.