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What is Student Well-Being?
Student well-being considers the social, emotional, and social health of students that allows them to thrive, learn effectively, manage stress, and reach their full academic potential. Research shows a strong, positive relationship between a student feeling safe and connected in school to their ability to stay motivated, engaged, and mentally and physically healthy, and their academic success. It’s more than just avoiding problems; it’s about fostering resilience, happiness, balance, and a sense of purpose amidst academic and life challenges.
Why Does It Matter?
Students have better academic performance and learn better when they can successfully handle daily stresses and challenges at school and home. When schools take a “whole child” approach, it encourages overall personal growth for students that goes beyond just grades, fostering well-rounded individuals.
How Is It Achieved?
Student well-being relies on a positive school environment that includes supportive interactions with teachers, opportunities for social-emotional learning (SEL), and access to support services. Effective teaching helps students develop life skills such as self-awareness, managing emotions, empathy, building relationships, and making responsible decisions, preparing them for academic success, healthy personal lives, fulfilling careers, and responsible citizenship. These skills can be a foundation for lifelong well-being and resilience which are essential for dealing with challenges both in school and beyond.
What School Staff Are Essential to Student Well-being?
Promoting student well-being requires trained specialized professionals to work with students, including special education assistance, to help students access support they need to be successful in school and in life. Helping professionals like counselors, social workers, psychologists, and nurses, help remove barriers (academic, social, emotional trauma, mental health) that impede learning by providing direct support, mental health services, behavioral interventions, and connecting families to community resources. Helping professionals also provide training to teachers, and staff support to help them understand and manage student needs. Having these critical, specialized support staff in schools improves safety, attendance, and academic success for the entire student body. Learn more by visiting each of the blocks on this page.
What Should Legislators Do?
State and federal lawmakers should fully fund our schools, including funding for more helping professionals. Local school districts cannot do this work alone. It’s important that community members and our government invest in the safety and well-being of our PreK-12 aged children. Lawmakers also need to provide resources outside of the school setting that support child well-being (affordable housing, food security programs, commonsense gun laws, access to quality healthcare, etc.).
Student well-being is directly connected to academic performance:
when students’ social-emotional needs are met,
they have a greater chance at academic success.
Resources
https://positivepsychology.com/student-wellbeing/
https://www.secondstep.org/blog/strategies-to-promote-student-well-being
https://www.readyeducation.com/en/articles/how-to-prioritise-student-well-being
https://casel.org/fundamentals-of-sel/
https://www.nea.org/about-nea/our-members/education-support-professionals