Issue Brief 82: Supporting Student Wellness and Success
Connecticut has a unique opportunity to develop a comprehensive and sustainable approach to student wellness and behavioral health that can be funded with pandemic-related federal support. Federal support from round two of the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER II) brought $400 million to Connecticut, followed by an additional $1.1 billion as a result of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP ESSER).
This Issue Brief provides recommendations for investing ESSER II and ARP ESSER funds so that the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) and local education authorities (LEAs) can make long-term, sustainable improvements in supporting student behavioral health and academic success.
This Issue Brief was prepared by Jamie LoCurto, PhD, Jeana Bracey, PhD, and Jason Lang, PhD.