Student Supports

Student Supports encompass a wide variety of interventions, activities and practices that schools can implement to address the non-academic needs that often pose a barrier to students' learning.  This work is grounded in the understanding that educational success is directly impacted by factors both within and outside of the classroom and that the needs of the "whole child" must be met to maximize the effectiveness of academic instruction. 

Student Supports recognizes that schools alone may not be equipped to address the variety and depth of students' needs and should actively partner in a coordinated and integrated manner with community providers and other resources.  This may include ensuring students' basic needs are met, supporting students to feel physically and psychologically safe, and providing an array of interventions that allow students to focus on learning. 

Resources

Texas School Mental Health:  A website that provides districts and campuses with the resources needed to develop a comprehensive school mental health program. Includes a school mental health toolkit, online training opportunities, and a repository of recommended best practice programs and research-based practices for implementation in public schools. 

Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network: A network dedicated to addressing the issues that impact access and provision of mental health services in schools across the United States.  

Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute:  Provides independent, nonpartisan, data-driven, and trusted policy and program guidance that creates systemic changes so all Texans can obtain effective, efficient behavioral health care when and where they need it. 

National Dropout Prevention Center: Dedicated to increasing graduation rates through research and evidence-based solutions.  

Texas School Mental Health Resource Database: A comprehensive mental health resource database created in response to Senate Bill 11 from the 86th Texas Legislature that identifies mental health resources and funding opportunities that are available to school districts in Texas.