COPS AND NO COUNSELORS

How the Lack of School Mental Health Staff is Harming Students

The U.S. Department of Education recently required every public school to report the number of social workers, nurses, and psychologists employed for the first time in history. Data about school counselors had been required previously, but this report provides the first state-level student-to-staff ratio comparison for these other school-based mental health personnel, along with school counselors. It reviews state-level student-to-school-based mental health personnel ratios as well as data concerning law enforcement in schools. The report also reviews school arrests and referrals to law enforcement data, with particular attention to disparities by race and disability status. A key finding of the report is that schools are under-resourced and students are overcriminalized.

DOWNLOAD REPORT   https://www.aclu.org/report/cops-and-no-counselors

MSPA  and NASP’s  Strategic and Legislative Agenda support School Psychologist’s as Mental Health Providers.   This ACLU report provides crucial data and finding. Thanks to Melissa Reeves for sharing this important information. 

Submitted by Marilyn Leifgren and Dr. Sally Baas, Legislative Co-Chairs