Dallas-area children and teenagers are struggling with their social-emotional skills more since the pandemic started, but summer programs gave some a chance to connect with others their age, according to a new report.
The finding was among several in a new report by the nonprofit Big Thought and Southern Methodist University that gave insight into how students are feeling during the public health crisis as the two examined the impact of their Dallas City of Learning initiative in summer 2020.
Students participating in the report’s survey rated their social-emotional skills — such as being able to talk about their feelings and planning for the future — a 2.22 out of 4, a decrease of nearly one full point from ratings done before the pandemic.
“There’s a sense of normalcy that our kids need to have, which they don’t have normal right now,” said Michael Hinojosa, Dallas ISD superintendent.
Predicting that students will “come back with higher mental health and social work issues” after the pandemic, Hinojosa said DISD has hired nearly 60 mental health professionals this year.
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