Rebecca Bauer Consulting

Have you seen the latest attack on schools? The White House's announcement on 2/14 informs schools, that "considering race at all when making staffing decisions or offering services to subsets of students would be grounds for punishment." On Monday, ED also announced it is cancelling "$600 million in grants focused on training teachers in 'inappropriate and unnecessary topics' such as critical race theory, social justice activism, antiracism and 'instruction on white privilege.'" These are dark times to work in education. I wish I had a clearer call to action for everyone. For now, I'd say as hard as it is, stay informed and give what you can to the nonprofits fighting back. If you have other ideas for fueling the resistance, I'd love to hear them. https://lnkd.in/ecxE8EY9

Are current events making you wonder what exactly the U.S. Department of Education does? The answer is a lot. From Title I to IDEA, the Department of Education provides funds to support schools in serving students with disabilities, students from low-income communities, and so much more. Learn more in this recent NPR piece by Nicole Cohen, Jonaki Mehta, Elissa Nadworny and Cory Turner.

Celebrating two incredible years in business! 🎉 It’s been another exciting year of impactful events, meaningful collaborations, and crafting messages that matter. We’re deeply grateful to amazing colleagues, friends, and supporters who’ve made this journey so rewarding. Looking forward to many more years of growth, connection, and making a difference together!

Thank you to CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning) for kicking off the new year by sharing the state of SEL. There's a distinct possibility of renewed attacks on social emotional learning in the year ahead. But the truth is, states from across the political spectrum have policies in place that support the successful implementation of SEL. As we move ahead, let’s keep pushing for SEL’s proven benefits and make sure all students have the social and emotional skills they need to thrive! Figure 7 from Social and Emotional Learning in U.S. Schools: https://lnkd.in/eBwpuQQs

As the year winds down, I’m taking a moment to reflect on 2024—a year of growth, challenges, and meaningful work! Professionally, I’ve been proud to support youth mental health and education initiatives, from collaborating with The Jed Foundation (JED) on suicide prevention initiatives to helping Coaction Collective bring innovative programming like summer learning experiences and family math festivals to life. It’s been an honor to work with such passionate teams dedicated to making a difference. As many of you know, 2024 was also a big year for my family. My wife and I welcomed our baby girl in April, and life has been a beautiful, messy blur of sleepless nights, baby snuggles, and lots of visits with family and friends. Looking ahead to 2025, I’m anxious about what is to come, but determined to double down on the work that matters most—pushing for justice, supporting marginalized communities, and empowering the next generation. If you're working on projects that align with these goals, let’s connect. I’d love to collaborate or support your efforts in the year ahead. Wishing everyone a joyful, restful holiday season and a strong start to 2025. Let’s keep doing the work that makes a difference!

Don't miss The Jed Foundation (JED)'s new report: Fraternities and Mental Health: Supporting Emotional Well-Being Among Members and Across Campus. Greek life offers opportunities for community and leadership but also brings significant mental health risks for both members and non-members. This report provides actionable, evidence-based strategies to help campus leaders create safer, more supportive campus environments. Explore the report to discover insights that can help drive meaningful change in Greek life and beyond!

“Give us our roses while we’re still here.” - B. Parker 🌹🏳️⚧️ On this Transgender Day of Remembrance, we cling to the power and legacies of our trans and nonbinary siblings lost in the last year. As reported by the Human Rights Campaign, at least twenty-eight trans and gender-expansive folks were taken through violent means in 2024. Any loss of a trans person is a loss of great light in our world. We situate ourselves at a moment in history where trans people face extreme challenges to everyday life and livelihood. We know you’re struggling and we hear you loud and clear. Here is our message to you: You are needed; you are wanted; the world is better for you being here. Today, we honor those we’ve lost and celebrate those who are still here: 🌹Trans kids growing up across America 🌹Trans parents building beautiful families 🌹Trans advocates fighting for affirming policy protections 🌹Trans teens navigating coming out to their friends 🌹Trans teachers fostering inclusive classrooms 🌹Trans leaders on the ground, making their voices heard 🌹 And for you…no matter who you are or where you are, you deserve to be here. #TheTrevorProject #ProtectTransKids #Nonbinary #TransLivesMatter #LGBTQ #TransDayOfRemembrance

"It sounds really dystopian to say that trying to be more inclusive could actually result in punishment from the federal government. But that is a risk,” said Elana Redfield, federal policy director for The Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law. Now is the time to start thinking about how you and your organizations will protect LGBTQ+ youth.

What a whirlwind of a week! It was fantastic to see so many familiar faces and meet new folks in the family engagement space at NAFSCE (National Association for Family, School, and Community Engagement)’s inaugural National Assembly. And of course, always fun to collaborate with and spread the word about Coaction Collective! #NAFSCEAssembly24

It's been a powerful day and a half with The Jed Foundation (JED) at the #JEDPolicySummit. Addressing the youth mental health crisis is one of the most important issues our nation faces right now. It's heartening to see so many organizations come together to advocate for students' needs and share innovative solutions. Stay tuned for a blog post about the event coming soon!