Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

Student Mental Health Outcomes: 2025

Report 25-11, December 2025

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Report Summary

  • Mental health conditions can impact children’s physical health, academic performance, and educational attainment. In response to the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, the Legislature enacted the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act. The act required the creation of threat assessment teams and created the Mental Health Assistance Allocation (MHAA), which provides supplemental funding for school districts to provide mental health supports to students. 
  • As required by s. 1001.212(11), Florida Statutes, the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) has implemented all components of the threat management process, including launching a threat management portal. During school year 2024-25, there were 58,983 reported incidents, 26% of which were forwarded to the full school-based threat management team for further review. 
  • Fifty-eight of 60 school districts responding to OPPAGA’s survey reported providing information about mental health services to trained staff; however, not all school districts include all statutorily required information in the notification. All 67 school districts’ 2024-25 MHAA plans described the evidence-based mental health programs the school districts used and, 66 of the plans described the school districts’ work with community providers. However, OPPAGA could not verify that all school districts had adopted all statutorily required policies and procedures, and no districts met nationally recommended staffing ratios for all mental health professionals. 
  • In school year 2023-24, school districts spent 66% of the state’s MHAA on school-based staff and services and 9% on community-based services; the remaining funds were apportioned to charter schools or used for expenses such as printed materials for trainings and professional development. During the same period, districts reported using MHAA funds to provide school-based services to 295,927 students and community-based services to 61,404 students. 
  • Forty-seven school districts reported working with managing entities to provide students mental health and substance abuse services, but some districts identified a need for more service providers. Fifty school districts reported being well-integrated with existing community behavioral health services, but managing entity reports provide limited information about such integration.
  • FDOE should ensure that MHAA data are reported consistently over time and collect additional data to improve future evaluations of the MHAA program. 

Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act, threat assessment teams, Mental Health Assistance Allocation, school safety, threat management process, i threat management portal, evidence-based school mental health programs