We Won Increases in Student Mental Health Supports

From before day 1 of this session, WEA members knew we needed to act to provide our students with more student physical, mental, and behavioral supports.  We ran a public campaign with advertising at the beginning of session and 67 educators sharing their compelling stories with legislators. 

The legislature heard us and changed the funding formula for K-12 schools to include $91 million more funding for nurse, social worker, counselor, and psychologist staffing so when our students need help we have more resources for them.

Districts will have to staff to the state-funded levels in total among mental, physical, and behavioral health supports to get the funding (example, could add more nurses than counselors or vice versa).   While this new funding is not an absolute staffing mandate, it does include more limitations and requirements on the funding than usual.

The new funding starts with the 2022-2023 school year and is increased through the 2024-2025 school year.

Winning supports for our students is only possible because in WEA-PAC we have a strong non-partisan voice to elect pro-labor, pro-education candidates. It makes a difference when our lawmakers understand the importance of public education and supporting educators.  Now is a great time to join educators from across the state in WEA-PAC or to increase your contribution.