March 21, 2023
Senator Dave Murman, Chairperson
Senator Joni Albrecht
Senator Tom Briese
Senator Lynne Walz
Senator Danielle Conrad
Senator Rita Sanders
Senator Justin Wayne
Senator Lou Ann Linehan
Good afternoon distinguished members of the Education Committee:
This letter is a proponent letter for LB527.
LPS supports LB527 because it would provide additional resources to address the mental health needs of students by appropriating twelve million dollars from the General Fund to the State Department of Education to reimburse school districts and Educational Service Units (ESUs) for allowable mental health expenditures.
LPS believes that when students receive the mental health services that they require, it benefits their academic achievement. LPS has found that receiving mental health services onsite in schools is preferable for many students and more supportive of their education. Currently, LPS offers integrated community mental health services within LPS for students who have gone through the approval process with their parents. Most of these services are provided at Title I buildings. In 2020-2021, 396 students received services in school from three local mental health agencies. Some of the reasons that students participated in services are included in the following list:
- Attempted previous interventions
- Significant stressor
- Mental health signs/symptoms
- Disruption in multiple life domains due to stressors
- Barriers to participation in mental health services outside of school
LPS has found that it is advantageous to receive services in school because it limits the amount of time out of class to attend appointments in the community; it opens up opportunities for collaboration among the school, the therapist, and the families; and the services reduces the stressors that interfere with students learning.
When surveyed following the 2020-21 school year:
- 100% of School Staff want therapy in their school building.
- 92% of Students agree or somewhat agree that therapy helps them handle their daily lives.
- 89% of School Staff believe they have a moderately high level of collaboration with the School-Based Therapist
LB527 would provide funding that would allow this support to continue and expand to better meet the needs of our students and families.
For these reasons, we are proponents of LB527.
