Schools are reporting higher staffing needs overall, including a dearth of mental health staff specifically, and lower capacity to effectively provide mental health services at a time when emergency pandemic relief is winding down. The nationally representative data showing these trends came from a survey of 1,683 public schools in March 2024.
States must commit any remaining funds from the federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief aid for K-12 programs by Sept. 30,. After that, states and districts then have another four months — or until Jan. 28, 2025 — to spend money provided under the American Rescue Plan.
