How Schools Fund Student Well-being Support and Address Social Media & Tech Use
A study in 2015 found that investing in students’ well-being had significant long-term benefits, yielding $11 for every $1 spent by resulting in better health, education, and job prospects for students, along with a lower risk of involvement in criminal activities.
Initiatives such as digital literacy, character-building, and others have taken hold across the globe, particularly in the wake of the pandemic. And screen time and social media use is increasing, impacting student health and learning.
With most students using smartphones by the age of 11, student well-being has expanded beyond traditional notions that focus solely on physical health and academic success to include a broader range of factors, such as media literacy, cyberbullying prevention, and screen time use, and schools want to know: how can we empower and equip students with the skills to navigate social media and tech in ways that fuel their well-being, happiness, and future success?
We also know that supporting student well-being so that they can achieve academic success and have healthy, fulfilling lives requires schools to make a financial investment. Investing in students seems like a no-brainer for a school, but the CFOs reading this article are probably thinking: “The funding has to come from somewhere!”
So, how can school leaders ensure they are setting funds aside for supporting their students, faculty, and families as they navigate social media and tech’s impact on student learning and well-being – often one of the most critical expenses for any educational institution?
Let’s explore the different ways that schools are funding resources for students, educators, and families to create strong school communities ready to learn and grow together.
Government Funding
Learning is much harder when students aren’t healthy, impacting their academic performance, engagement in the classroom, and overall well-being.
As school leaders, we have a unique opportunity to advocate for federal education grants that support initiatives aimed at enhancing student well-being in a tech-fueled world. By prioritizing funding for programs that address the impact of social media and tech on learning, we can create a more supportive environment for students both inside and outside of the classroom. Check out the list of government funding opportunities below and browse the National Education Association’s database to search for federal funding grants by your school’s challenge here.
ARP Act of 2021
None of us could have imagined a pandemic that would completely derail student lives. Since pre-COVID, student well-being has been declining, and student needs are not being met, with the disruption of routines, isolation and loneliness, and limited access to support services. Luckily, the ARP Act is here to help. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, available until the end of 2024, provides more than $170 billion for K-12 schools and higher education institutions. Schools can use ARP Act funds on activities that address the impact of COVID-19, such as supporting student health, partnering with organizations that support student behavioral and mental health, and student well-being opportunities and informational resources for the whole school community. Learn more here.
Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds (ESSER)
ESSER Funding, established as part of the Education Stabilization Fund in the CARES Act 1, is part of three COVID-19 relief laws, allocating $190 billion in aid to states and school districts to help address students’ academic, social, and emotional needs arising from the pandemic. The funding program is available until September 2024 and schools can use the funds for new programs, equipment, personal positions, and partnerships. Learn more about ESSER here.
Academic Enrichment Grants
The McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation provides Academic Enrichment Grants aimed at enhancing both in-class and extracurricular educational programs for students. These grants support various educational initiatives beyond regular class instruction, enhancing students’ overall academic experience.
These grants support proposals that enhance student’s intellectual, artistic, or creative abilities from low-income households. Recipients can receive up to $10,000 per year for a total of $20,000 over two years as long as the eligibility requirements continue to be met. Learn more here!
Title Funding
Billions of dollars in aid are provided annually through the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) to help boost learning opportunities for students, including initiatives that promote school safety and mental health resources. There are several different ways a school can qualify to receive this funding.
Every student deserves an equal opportunity for academic success, and Title 1 funding supports that. Title 1 funding, part of ESSA, can be used to supplement instruction for schools with students who are at risk of failing to meet state standards. It aims to help students from low-income families achieve the state academic standards. However, it’s not just students that need support, it’s educators, too.
We’ve heard from educators across the country that they do not feel equipped with the training to support student well-being. Fortunately, along with ESSA, there is Title II funding that focuses on supporting students by providing professional development to teachers, principals, and other school leaders. This, in turn, strengthens and improves the quality and effectiveness of instruction geared toward low-income students.
The need for teaching modern life skills, especially in the wake of COVID-19, is incredibly important for all schools, with the widespread adoption of online tools, remote learning, and AI. Luckily, ESSA’s Title IV funding provides aid to both public and private schools! This funding is used to implement activities that support a well-rounded education and to improve student digital literacy.
Schools can leverage government funding opportunities to invest in #WinAtSocial, The Social Institute’s positive and proactive approach to equipping students with the modern life skills necessary to succeed in today’s world. As part of their broader efforts to address student well-being and empower students to navigate social media and tech positively, #WinAtSocial has been proven to align with schools’ strategic goals, support their student’s well-being, and can be incorporated into any point of the school day.
Existing Funding Sources to Support Student Well-Being
Often, schools don’t realize that they’ve already set budgets aside to support technology, social media, and student well-being initiatives. These resources can have a positive impact on students, both in and out of the classroom, fostering a supportive classroom environment and student development. The budget simply might live under “Digital Citizenship,” “Wellness,“ or “Counseling.” Or perhaps it lies with the tech director or leaders of a division of the school, such as middle schools. School leaders often have funds for important uses, particularly when the funds can be spent to support the entire school community.
Parent Organizations: Don’t underestimate the role your parent community can play in helping implement activities and programs that will directly benefit students. Aligning with your parent community and letting them provide support for whole-student development builds a stronger school culture.
Fundraising: Consider checking in with your development office! By educating your donors about the benefits of certain programs, you can lean on their support to assist in programs and activities that aid in student mental health and well-being. Schools can also fundraise in other areas to free up the budget to use on new expenses.
Endowments: Independent schools often draw a percentage from their unrestricted endowments. There is a strong argument for using these funds in programs that address the whole student, focusing on how just a percentage of these funds can improve student well-being.
Rainy Day Funds: Most, if not all, budgets have a certain amount set aside over time for emergencies. And the case can be made that the rainy day has arrived. By allocating a small percentage of these funds to student well-being programs, schools can support students as they navigate current mental health concerns, with 1 in 5 students experiencing mental health concerns in a given year.
These creatively sourced funds from current budgets and federal aid programs assist schools in getting the resources to teach students important modern life skills – such as decision-making skills, self-awareness, and digital literacy. Want to learn more about how to fund and assess student well-being programs at your school? Check out our white paper, Measuring What Matters: How Schools Assess and Fund Whole-Student Development.
As schools find solutions that fit their needs and can effectively address the topics that heavily influence students, including technology, social media, and current events, consider these funding sources to ensure that your school can help students build life skills for the modern-day!
The Social Institute (TSI) is the leader in empowering students by understanding students. Through #WinAtSocial, our gamified, peer-to-peer learning platform, we equip students, educators, and families to navigate their social world – in the classroom and beyond, online and offline – in healthy, high-character ways. Our unique, student-respected approach empowers and equips, rather than scares and restricts. We incorporate timely topics about social media, tech use, and current events that are impacting student well-being and learning. #WinAtSocial Lessons teach life skills for the modern day, capture student voice, and provide school leaders with actionable insights. Through these insights, students play an essential role in school efforts to support their own health, happiness, and future success as we enable high-impact teaching, meaningful family conversations, and a healthy school culture.