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.
Bailey suggests reconvening a workgroup to come up with recommendations on an overall plan.
At a Missouri Board of Education meeting, member Kim Bailey says the COVID-19 era has aggravated these problems and work needs to be done to identify the gaps. Bailey, from western Missouri’s Raymore, is a licensed mental health and trauma specialist.
Westbrooks-Hodge says she fully supports the plan but emphasizes that these needs have existed for many years, especially among poor and marginalized students.
Photo courtesy Missouri News Service