On World Mental Health Day, Educators Call on Chicago’s School Board to Address Mental Health Crisis

Chicago, IL — Today, on World Mental Health Day, educators and advocates are demanding immediate action from Chicago’s school board to address the mounting mental health crisis in schools.

Educators for Excellence-Chicago (E4E-Chicago) released a new report today, Mental Health in Our Classrooms, that lays out concrete, educator-driven solutions to strengthen mental health supports for both students and teachers. The report explicitly states that the school board must pass a resolution requiring a district-wide mental health strategy to guarantee equitable supports in every school.

The report comes at a pivotal moment. Earlier this year, the Trump administration cancelled $1 billion in federal school mental health funding, stripping schools of critical resources. Meanwhile, national survey data shows that nearly two-thirds of educators report their students’ mental health is worse today than before the pandemic.

“Students are struggling in ways we’ve never seen before, sometimes with challenges no one even knows about, and it impacts attendance, achievement, and learning every day,” said Devon Puccirello, a CPS elementary educator. “Just as we emphasize rigorous instruction, we must also prioritize students’ social and mental well-being. We need the school board to equip us with the tools and resources to meet our students’ needs.”

Dr. Marlena Little, Executive Director of E4E-Chicago added, “A school board resolution that guides the entire district is critical, because without it, the ability to access mental health resources will continue to be dependent on zip code. The board must be fearless in their stance and commit to a district-wide strategy that supports the well-being of every student and educator.”

The teacher-authored recommendations call for tangible supports and transparent accountability measures, including: 

• Dedicated professional development—at least two full days per year—to support educators to understand and bolster their own mental well-being.
• Mandatory annual training in student mental health supports for every school staff member, including trauma-informed care, mental health first aid, and referral protocol.
• Funding for school-level wellness infrastructure, such as support groups and on-site staff counselors.
• Equity-focused accountability measures, including staff mental health indicators in leadership evaluations.

Educators warn that Chicago cannot afford a delay. 

“The question is no longer whether solutions exist. Educators have put them on the table,” added Damita Cox, another CPS elementary teacher. “The question now is whether Chicago’s school board has the courage to act.”

The full report, Mental Health in Our Classrooms, is available here.

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About E4E-ChicagoFounded by public school teachers, E4E-Chicago is a growing movement of more than 8,000 Chicago educators, united around a common set of values and principles for improving student learning and elevating the teaching profession. We work together to identify issues that impact our schools, create solutions to these challenges, and advocate for policies and programs that give all students access to a quality education. For more information, please visit e4e.org/chapter/chicago/.