As educators, you see firsthand how students’ learning and well-being are intertwined, and how vital your role is in supporting both. In 2025, APA’s Child and Adolescent Learning and Well-Being team, along with the Coalition for Psychology in Schools and Education and national partners, worked to translate psychological science into practical tools.
This year, APA finalized Healthy Habits for School Communities, an evidence-informed framework designed to strengthen mental health and well-being across entire PK–12 school systems. We are thrilled to share that a nationwide pilot has been approved and is now moving forward across 28 schools, reaching more than 15,000 students.[GA1.1][GA1.2] We look forward to sharing insights as the pilot progresses.
In 2025, APA expanded its popular Mental Health Primer series with new, educator-friendly guides on Students Experiencing Anxiety and Students Experiencing Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors, available in both written and audio formats. Work has also begun on a new primer exploring social media and student mental health, developed in collaboration with University of Virginia Capstone students—bringing fresh perspectives grounded in psychological science. You can see our entire Mental Health Primer series.
We are also finalizing a comprehensive update to the Top 20 Principles, a globally used guide that connects psychological science to effective teaching and learning. A fully refreshed edition will be available in early 2026.
Through the Network for Resilient PK–12 Schools in Extreme Climates, APA is partnering with 13 organizations to help schools respond to challenges such as extreme heat. Our first initiative, a new Health Advisory on Extreme Heat, created with the help of APA Division 34, will be released in Spring 2026, timed to support schools’ summer planning.
APA’s Taskforce on Violence Against Educators and School Personnel continued one of the largest studies to date on violence affecting teachers, administrators, and school staff. In 2025, this work produced:
- A policy brief and technical report on violence against administrators
- A brief with practical tips for schools
- A practice-focused guide with APA Division 15
- Five peer-reviewed articles, with more on the way
These resources are being disseminated with partners like NEA, NASSP, and NAESP to help ensure safer, more supportive school environments. You can see these resources on APA’s website.
The Civil Discourse Project is dedicated to building skills for productive dialogue. In addition to resources for middle and high school classrooms, we released new tools for grades 3–5 and are currently developing resources for parents and college students. A cross-organizational working group will launch in 2026 to expand this work. You can learn more about the Civil Discourse Project.
In 2025, APA’s Child and Adolescent Learning and Well-Being team updated more than 30 web resources and expanded its digital outreach - explore more. Our social media series promoting the Mental Health Primers generated over 400,000 impressions and 15,000 engagements across social platforms, demonstrating strong demand for accessible, evidence-based guidance for schools. One other update about our team - Nicole Barnes, Senior Director of Child and Adolescent Learning and Well-Being, has taken on the role of Executive Lead Psychologist, Education at APA. In this new role she will continue innovating, finding new ways to strengthen psychology education and training, and shape a world where psychology leads as the science of teaching and learning.
Looking ahead to 2026, from mental health support to school safety, climate resilience, and evidence-based instructional tools, APA is expanding its work to meet the needs of today’s students and educators. In 2026, we’ll focus on scaling implementation, expanding collaborations, and continuing to advocate for policies that strengthen both student and educator well-being.
Most importantly, we remain committed to supporting you - the educators working every day to create healthy, supportive learning environments where everyone can thrive. If you’d like access to any of the resources mentioned above, look for the links included throughout this article, or find us online.
About the author
Micah Gottlieb, MSEL, associate director: Child and Adolescent Applied Psychology, brings over two decades of experience as a teacher, school leader, and learning experience designer. His extensive background spans K–12 education and the corporate sector, where he has successfully led transformative initiatives focused on collaboration, community partnerships, teaching and learning, and organizational impact. Micah holds an MS in Educational Leadership from Brooklyn College, a BS in applied mathematics and statistics from Stony Brook University, and certifications in learning experience design from Oregon State University and redesigning high schools for improved instruction from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. At APA, he applies his diverse expertise to develop, promote, and disseminate valuable resources that utilize psychological science to benefit Pre-K to 12 schools and education.