GGUSD Expands Extended Learning and Mental Health Programs for 2021-2022 School Year

Tuesday, August 31, 2021

Garden Grove Unified School District (GGUSD) is expanding extended learning opportunities and mental health support programs in the 2021-2022 school year to serve both the academic and personal needs of all students.

GGUSD will allot one-time state funding for the extended learning and mental health support programs to help students strengthen academic and personal skills that may have stalled due to challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Each of the district’s 67 schools will develop its own before or after school extended learning programs to meet the academic and social-emotional needs of its students. The in-person instruction may include small group instruction on targeted academic content, one-on-one tutoring, focused reading, writing or math skill building, social-emotional learning, field trips, and more.

“We know that COVID-19 took a tremendous toll on our students and we want to ensure our resources maximize student learning while also ensuring attention is paid to students’ social-emotional needs,” said Board of Education Vice President Walter Muneton. “Whether a student is struggling with academics or anxiety, our schools are a safe haven and we have the resources to help students where they are.”

The district will also begin the new school year with a renewed focus on mental health support including expanding its team of school psychologists, social workers, mental health interns and mental health specialists. These mental health professionals provide direct counseling, to students and crisis support to schools. During its Super Week professional development courses, GGUSD tripled its menu of mental health workshop options, including stress reduction, mindfulness, trauma informed classroom practices, mental health awareness, resiliency and suicide prevention. More than 700 employees attended these trainings.

Throughout the year, GGUSD plans to build upon its “Choose Wellness” campaign launched in 2019 and will offer events and programs to connect families and students with important information and resources in this area.