By Katie Lannan
BOSTON (State House News Service) – The COVID-19 pandemic, marked by disrupted routines and social isolation, has drawn new attention to issues around youth mental health. Now, lawmakers are proposing ways to give Massachusetts students additional flexibility to cope with mental health issues as they arise.
The Joint Committee on Education heard testimony Tuesday on a pair of bills addressing mental health sick days for students.
Rep. Tami Gouveia’s bill (H 3782), which was filed at the request of a constituent, would amend the section of state law on excused absences from school to specify “that cases of necessary absence shall include absences for the mental or behavioral health of the student.”
