🛝 Federal PD Funding Misses Tech, Near-Peer Mental Health Works, Absenteeism Finally Drops

Welcome to Playground Post, a bi-weekly newsletter that keeps education innovators ahead of what's next.

This week's reality check: Billions in federal professional development dollars exist, but less than half goes to technology training. Meanwhile, schools experimenting with young adult mental health navigators are seeing real results, and chronic absenteeism is finally improving after states ditched punitive approaches.

💎 Data Gem

District leaders plan to use outcomes-based contracts next for: professional development (17%), tutoring (12%), core math (12%), supplemental ELA (10%). This shift from pilots to procurement strategy means products need measurable impact and data-sharing built in from day one.

Billions in Federal PD Dollars Exist. Less Than Half Goes to Tech Training

Schools are navigating AI tools, deploying devices to every student, and asking teachers to integrate technology into instruction.

Yet less than 40% of districts use their share of the $2.2 billion Title II-A Supporting Effective Instruction grants for technology-related training, according to a new SETDA report.

Only nine states currently ask districts to prioritize technology training with these funds. 

And few states have clear definitions of what student-centered, technology-enabled instruction even looks like.

The bigger problem? 

Much of the money goes to short-term workshops centered on specific tools rather than sustained support that transforms teaching.

Virginia created a library of best practices for districts to learn from each other. North Carolina and Utah each designated point people for AI implementation. But most states lack clear frameworks.

The mismatch: billions available for professional development, but structural barriers prevent it from reaching the areas where schools need it most. 

Companies building teacher training platforms should understand that compliance concerns often override innovation - and that sustained, measurable support matters more than one-off workshops.

Schools Deploy Young Adult Mental Health Navigators. Early Results Look Promising

What if the solution to the youth mental health crisis wasn't more licensed therapists, but near-peer mentors who recently lived through the same challenges?

That's the premise behind the Youth Mental Health Corps, which deployed 317 young adults (ages 18-24) across 172 schools in four states during its first year.

The results caught attention. 

School leaders reported reduced behavioral referrals and improved attendance. Students proactively asked for help more often, suggesting reduced stigma around mental health.

The model is expanding rapidly. Seven more states joined in year two, with another seven planning to launch in 2026-27, bringing the total to 18 states.

What makes it work? 

These "navigators" aren't replacing school counselors or therapists. They're a first line of support - meeting with students weekly, connecting them to resources, and determining who needs specialist referrals.

The navigators receive mental health first aid training, de-escalation strategies, and college courses in behavioral health. 

And the career pipeline is working - all four corps members in an initial case study are pursuing education or mental health careers.

The model is "highly customizable" according to evaluators, with four quite distinct state implementations. It's not one-size-fits-all, but rather responsive to local needs and context.

Schools face a dual challenge - 2 in 5 high school students report feeling sad and hopeless, while 132 million Americans live without adequate mental health access. The near-peer model addresses both by supporting students while creating career pathways in behavioral health. For innovators, this suggests demand for training programs, case management tools, and platforms that help scale what's currently a relationship-intensive model.

Chronic Absenteeism Finally Drops After States Abandon Punitive Approaches

After doubling during the pandemic - from 15% in 2019 to 28% in 2022 - chronic absenteeism rates are showing steady improvement across multiple states.

A new EdTrust report analyzing 22 states plus D.C. found three common working strategies: collecting and publishing reliable data, investing in early interventions, and eliminating punitive practices.

Connecticut publishes attendance data monthly - not quarterly or annually - and ranks among states with the lowest chronic absenteeism. 

Several states invested heavily in support systems. Connecticut and Maryland put millions into wrap-around services like mental health support and at-home visits. California invested billions.

The data also reveals gaps in how states track at-risk populations. 

Without granular data on students of color, low-income students, those with disabilities, and English language learners, funding doesn't reach the groups with highest chronic absenteeism.

The pattern suggests that solving absenteeism requires sustained investment in support systems rather than enforcement mechanisms. For education companies, this means opportunities in early warning systems, family engagement platforms, and tools that help schools provide wrap-around services at scale - especially solutions that can track and report data in real-time rather than quarterly.

⚡️More Quick Hits

This week in education:

• 180 ransomware attacks hit education  -  Education sector experienced 180 attacks in first three quarters of 2025, with average ransom demand of $444,400 and 4,388 weekly attacks per school globally

• Fort Worth ISD faces state takeover  -  Texas taking over district of 70,000+ students because one campus with 300 sixth graders failed to meet academic standards for five consecutive years

• States create own Blue Ribbon programs  -  After Trump administration ended 43-year-old federal program, at least 18 states launched their own school recognition systems

• Early intervention delays in Philadelphia  -  Federally mandated early intervention system failing to provide services within 14-day requirement, with speech therapy waitlists exceeding 2,000 families

🔎 Worth Checking Out

Monthly roundup of resources you might like:

• State of Computer Science 2025 — State-by-state tracking showing 32 states now require high schools to offer CS courses and 12 mandate CS for graduation.

• K-12 Lens 2025 — Report showing teacher shortages declining to 66% of districts (down from 81%), but persistent gaps remain in special education and substitute roles

• Universal Connectivity Imperative — Data on the "homework gap": 84% of students have school devices in class, but many districts no longer allow take-home access

• National AI in K-12 Survey — Full survey data showing declining public support for AI tools across multiple use cases.

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