Education
BY DAVE MANNING
Cy-Fair ISD ties misconduct to mental health
psychologist with CFISD’s mental health interven- tion team. A recent analysis of the district’s discipline data for the last ve years showed while there was a spike in misbehavior, it was also a long-term problem coming to fruition. “When we take a look at behavioral trends and mental health trends of the preceding 20 years before COVID[-19], we can see that we’ve been staring at a looming mental and behavioral health crisis for the better part of two decades. And that’s just been exacerbated by COVID[-19],” Baker said. Baker said while students nationwide reported an increase in anxiety and depression following the start of the pandemic, historical data shows a parallel between the advent of social media and youth behavioral issues—particularly as cyberbul- lying and social aggression through social media become more prevalent. What parents should know In its latest report, Mental Health America ranked Texas as the worst state for access to men- tal health care. However, virtual mental health
Discipline overview Cy-Fair ISD has seen an uptick in behavior issues since students fully returned to campuses in 2021- 22 following COVID-19 hitting in 2020.
In-school suspensions
Out-of-school suspensions
Other actions
Number of disciplinary incidents
60,000 45,000 30,000 0 15,000
Student discipline and mental health trends have been moving in the wrong direction for years, Cy-Fair ISD ocials said at an Aug. 3 board work session. According to district data, there was a 70% increase in disciplinary incidents from 2019- 20 to 2022-23. Community Impact previously reported mental health experts cited the stress, trauma and isola- tion students faced during the COVID-19 pandemic as potential sources of behavior issues. What the experts say COVID-19 was identi ed as a proverbial “truck” that hit faculty, sta and students upon the return to in-person learning, said Wes Baker, a
2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23
SOURCE: CYFAIR ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT
services are available to students through the Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine. CFISD’s student services department monitors all classroom incidents that result in a student’s removal, and the district’s counseling and psycho- logical services department studies student behav- ior to better support students’ mental health.
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