NYS: $108 million available for schools to address pandemic learning loss, support mental health

Establishes Recover from COVID School Program Grants

√ $100 million to create or expand programs to help students address trauma from COVID-19 pandemic; $8.3 million to create and support new school-based mental health clinics

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced $108 million is available for school districts to support student well-being through expanding mental health supports. The new state matching fund, the $100 million Recover from COVID School Program, will provide funding to create or expand programs to help students address trauma caused by the pandemic, prioritizing school districts with the highest need. 

Additionally, a portion of the $100 million Recover from COVID School Program is available to address student learning loss exacerbated by the pandemic. Hochul is also expanding school-based mental health clinics across the state through an $8.3 million investment within her  $1 billion mental health plan.

"The effects of the pandemic on our students were devastating and irreversible – that's why we’re making historic investments to address learning loss and expand mental health support in our schools,” Hochul said. “By pinpointing where students have fallen behind and getting them the mental health resources they need, this funding will help put New York students back on the path towards success.”

Individual school districts or BOCES, a consortium of school districts or BOCES, or any combination of these entities may apply for the Mental Health Recover from COVID School Program (RECOVS) Grant and the Learning Loss RECOVS Grant. A total of $100 million in funding is available to support these RECOVS grants.

The Mental Health RECOVS Grant objectives charge school districts and BOCES applicants to:

√ Expand student access to school-based mental health professionals, evidence-based and evidence-informed interventions, programming, services, supports and practices that promote mental health and wellness;

√ Improve capacity for school staff and students to identify mental health concerns and increase help-seeking behaviors;

√ Implement a variety of evidence-based and evidence-informed school-based mental health interventions and practices that are culturally, linguistically, and trauma responsive while promoting student diversity, equity and inclusion; and

√ Ensure financial stability and continuation of student access to evidence-based and evidence-informed school-based mental health interventions, programs services, and supports beyond the second and final year of the RECOVS Mental Health Grant Program.

The Learning Loss RECOVS Grant objectives charge school districts and BOCES applicants to:

√ Expand student access to academic recovery professionals, evidence-based and evidence-informed interventions, programming, services, supports and promising practices that counter learning loss;

√ Improve capacity for school staff and students to identify learning loss, and increase student and staff resourcefulness and skills in seeking, receiving, and providing academic recovery supports;

√ Implement a variety of evidence-based and evidence-informed school-based learning loss and academic recovery practices that are culturally, linguistically, and trauma responsive while promoting student diversity, equity and inclusion; and

√ Ensure financial stability and continuation of evidence-based and evidence-informed school-based academic recovery opportunities for students continuing to experience learning loss beyond the second and final year of the RECOVS Learning Loss Grant Program

Funding will be awarded over two years ($50 million annually). Application submissions are due by 5 p.m. Aug. 18. More information and application details can be found here. Funding for RECOVS was included in New York enacted budget for state fiscal year 2022-23.

Additionally, $8.3 million is available for grants to create school-based mental health clinics. The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) issued a request for applications to provide up to $25,000 in start-up costs for OMH-licensed providers to create new school-based mental health clinic satellites and to support recently established school-based mental health clinic satellites. An additional $20,000 ($45,000 total) will be available for clinics being established in high-needs districts where more than 50% of the students are economically disadvantaged. Application submissions are due by 1 p.m. Oct. 5. More information and application details can be found here.

Earlier this year, Hochul directed OMH and the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) to conduct a statewide youth mental health listening tour to receive direct input from middle and high school students on how their schools can better promote student wellness.

OMH and OCFS compiled information they gathered during the listening tour and presented a report to the governor on their findings. School-based mental health clinics were frequently mentioned during the listening sessions by students, parents, caregivers and mental health advocates as a way to help young people struggling with mental health issues. The governor released the report during the first New York State Summit on Youth Mental Health, which was attended by more than 1,000 mental health professionals, advocates and other stakeholders.

The fiscal year 2024 budget provides $34.5 billion to New York’s schools, the highest level of state aid in history, “to help give every student the tools to succeed through a high-quality education,” Hochul’s team said. “The 2024 budget also provides $30 million to expand mental health services for school-aged children throughout the state, including $20 million for school-based mental health services and $10 million to implement wraparound services training. The budget also closes gaps in insurance coverage that have posed a barrier to New Yorkers needing mental health care and substance use disorder services. Among several critical changes outlined in the budget, commercial insurance plans will be required to cover services provided in school-based mental health clinics.”

New York State Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, “OMH has developed more than 1,000 mental health clinics in schools across the state to date, and this investment continues our commitment to New York state’s young people. Providing services directly in schools increases access, promotes coordinated care, and helps reduce stigma, all of which lead to better health outcomes for young people.”

New York State Department of Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa said, “In partnership with Gov. Hochul, these grants will supplement the efforts already underway in our schools to address the pandemic-related trauma and meet the needs of students still struggling with academic, attendance, and mental health issues. Traumatic experiences can affect all aspects of learning. Every child deserves access to a quality education, and these funds will enable our educators to deliver critical support to the students most impacted by the pandemic.

New York State Board of Regents Chancellor Lester W. Young Jr. said, “We have come a long way since the pandemic's start; however, the long-term effects of COVID continue, especially among our most vulnerable students. This funding will allow schools and districts to address student well-being and strengthen school connectedness strategies to combat the adversities caused by the pandemic.”