The Ways Emerging K-12 Trends are Shaping the Education Industry

Mental health support continues to be a primary concern for educators in the wake of pandemic closures. With students reporting increased levels of depression and anxiety, schools have prioritized staff training in psych education, suicide prevention, and social-emotional learning.

Fremont, CA: It's no secret that the country's education system faces many challenges, including post-pandemic academic recovery, family engagement, and cyber threat prevention. Meanwhile, administrators face challenges from every direction.

As 2023 approaches the second half of the year and the K-12 sector prepares for emergency pandemic funds, ongoing curriculum battles, and more, the following trends will be critical to watch.

ESSER Funding Crisis

The American Rescue Plan funding will be used more this year as school districts continue to pay for pandemic recovery efforts. This is while meeting their final obligation deadline of Sept. 30, 2024. 

The ARP pocket represents the last and largest allocation of $189.5 billion in COVID-19. Educators have over two years to budget for historic amounts of money before the first obligation deadline, Sept. 30, 2023, passes.

If emergency funding runs out before students' academic needs are met, more local and state funding will probably be called to help schools meet their budget gaps. A few states and districts have already adjusted their funding models to keep students and staff supported after federal emergency funds run out or are considering doing so.

Following three years of COVID interruptions, states and districts are looking closer at how they gather evidence of learning for each student. They are also looking at using this information to make a difference for every child. In a statement, Chris Minnich, CEO of NWEA, a nonprofit assessment and research organization, said. However, budget certainty will become more challenging as staff shortages and student absences persist. To achieve better student outcomes while meeting bottom-line goals, education leaders must balance priorities.

Need for mental health supports

In addition to academic recovery, mental health support continues to be a primary concern for educators in the wake of pandemic closures. With students reporting increased levels of depression and anxiety, schools have prioritized staff training in psych education, suicide prevention, and social-emotional learning.

Schools receive funds from sources such as the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. This was passed after the Uvalde elementary school massacre in June that killed 19 children and two teachers. While social-emotional learning has made some progress, there have been pockets of resistance, with some critics calling it a guise for "critical-race theory" or a way to control students' emotional and social well-being. As a result, many schools juggle their students' interests with community pressures on the one hand.