Bill > HB2239

This bill aims to support student well-being through instruction in social-emotional skills. The key provisions are: 1. The legislature recognizes a youth mental health crisis and finds that teaching students social-emotional skills can help reduce harmful behaviors and improve well-being. The bill encourages all public schools to provide instruction on skills related to self-awareness, self-management, self-efficacy, social awareness, social management, and social engagement, consistent with the learning standards and benchmarks adopted by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). 2. The bill directs OSPI to distribute funding annually from 2024 to 2029 to school districts, charter schools, and state-tribal education compact schools to support instruction in social-emotional learning, with a focus on high-poverty and high-risk communities. 3. The bill amends an existing law to encourage OSPI to work with state agencies and community partners to promote funding opportunities for youth suicide prevention activities, including those related to social-emotional learning. 4. The bill requires the funding to be provided only if specifically appropriated in the state's omnibus appropriations act.