The only organization dedicated solely to helping state boards advance equity and excellence in public education.

Health and Wellness

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Policy Update

Supporting School Efforts to Combat Substance Abuse

Mortality rates from overdose in adolescents rose by 94 percent in 2020, largely due to illicit fentanyl.

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Power of the Question

Six Questions State Boards Should Ask about Student Mental Health

There is an acute need for increased services, education, and supports for student mental health. Here are six questions to frame state board discussions on promoting student mental health.

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Power of the Question

Five Questions to Ask about School Staff Wellness in the Wake of COVID-19

The pandemic increased educator stress and burnout. Here are five questions state board members can ask to engage their state around staff wellness.

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Education Leaders Reports

How States Are Handling Lead in School Drinking Water

This NASBE analysis details how statewide efforts to test for lead in school drinking water vary across the country.

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Press Release

Indiana, Guam, and the District of Columbia Lead Efforts to Create Healthy School Facilities

The Indiana, Guam, and D.C. state boards of education each received grants through NASBE’s Healthy School Facilities Network, a project aimed at building and enhancing the capacity of states to ensure all students have access to healthy school facilities free from environmental harms.

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Policy Update

Empowering Families to Improve Youth Mental Health

State education leaders can foster children’s mental health by increasing families’ preparedness and awareness of available resources and activities.

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Policy Update

Beyond Testing for Lead in Drinking Water: Implications for Funding

While most states encourage or require schools to test for lead in drinking water, funding to sustain remediation lags—despite significant federal grants designed to boost those efforts.

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The Standard - Article

Trauma-Informed Practices: A Whole-School Policy Framework

State leaders can ensure that more school staff are equipped to help children deal with the effects of trauma.

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Press Release

Despite Challenges, States are Strengthening the Pipeline of School-Mental Health Staff

NASBE analysis identifies the challenges of attracting and retaining this workforce and highlights several states that are working to build a sustainable pipeline of SMHPs.

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Policy Update

States Face Challenges Building a School Mental Health Workforce

Challenges persist in attracting and retaining this school-based mental health professionals, but some states, including Virginia, Ohio, Colorado, Michigan, and others, are making progress.

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Press Release

States Take Measures to Ensure Students’ Access to Menstrual Products in Schools

New NASBE analysis highlights how states have increasingly opted to combat “period poverty.”

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Policy Update

States Address Access to Menstrual Products in Schools

States such as Georgia, New York, Utah, and others have increasingly opted to combat “period poverty" by expanding access to free menstrual products in schools.

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event

State Efforts to Address Substance Abuse

While prevalence of reported substance abuse was lower since before the onset of the pandemic, youth substance abuse remains an important health concern, according to a NASBE analysis. For instance, overdose mortality rates among adolescents spiked during the pandemic, rising by 94 percent in 2020, largely due to illicit fentanyl. State health and education leaders […]

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