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Senior Policy Analyst at Education Commission of the States | arafa@ecs.org

Alyssa Rafa is a former senior policy analyst at Education Commission of the States.

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Recent Legislative Trends Addressing the Ongoing Suicide Crisis

This September, during National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, we reflect on the current state of students’ mental health and the...

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3 State Policy Levers to Support Teacher Mental Health

With teacher appreciation week only a few weeks behind us and mental health awareness month coming to a close, we have a...

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State Legislative Action to Support Students’ Mental Health

Students’ mental wellness has a profound impact on their ability to engage in the learning environment and succeed academically....

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Connecting Students to Mental Health Care Through Telehealth Technology

Approximately 1 in 6 school-age children experience a mental health disorder each year, and experts estimate up to 60% of students do not...

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How Did State Policies Change Under Former Federal Guidance on School Discipline?

After much speculation, the U.S. Department of Education officially rescinded Obama-era guidance on school discipline in December. Prior to...

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Suicide Prevention in Schools: What Are States Doing to Prevent Youth Suicide?

Too often, we hear stories of young people taking their own lives and we find ourselves asking what could have been done to prevent these...

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2 Chiefs on What It Takes to Improve Schools

Since the Every Student Succeeds Act passed in December 2015, we have been convening national experts and education policy leaders to...

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How Is the Opioid Crisis Affecting Schools and Students?

The opioid crisis facing our nation is both significant and complex. In 2016 alone, approximately 11.5 million Americans misused...

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Understanding the Nuances of the School Discipline Debate

There is a heated debate going on about school discipline reform around the country, and lines of argument generally fall into one of two...

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How Are States Shifting School Discipline Policies?

It is perhaps an understatement to say that school discipline is a hot topic these days. State policymakers, educators and parents across...

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