America's startling school nurse and counselor shortage

An overwhelming majority of schools in the U.S. lack nurses and counselors to help students in need, per a 2019 ACLU report from Education Department data on every school district.

Why it matters: Children are reporting just as much stress as adults, with one in three reporting that they are feeling depressed.

• Students are 21 times more likely to visit school-based health centers for mental health than community mental health centers.
• Especially in low-income districts where resources are scarce, these mental health providers at schools can be a district's first line of defense.

Go deeper:

• U.S. schools prepare for coronavirus spread
• How to make cities better for kids
• Pre-K programs slowly expand
• Schools turn to ride-hailing services to transport students
• Schools face pressure to ramp up safety protocols
• Why city planners are killing the cul-de-sac