What This Means for Your Schools
The Washington Youth Mental Health & Public School Promise Initiative helps public school districts improve student well‑being, engagement, and learning by aligning school design with modern developmental, learning, and mental‑health science.
​
​This work happens inside public education—using existing buildings, staff, funding, and governance—so districts remain in control at every step.
What the Initiative Offers
“Self‑directed” does not mean unstructured, permissive, or unsupported. It means students are active participants in their own learning rather than passive recipients of tasks.
Voluntary Partnership
District participation is optional. The Initiative begins with confidential conversation and shared understanding—not mandates, compliance pressure, or public exposure.
​
Science‑Aligned Redesign Support
Districts receive practical, field‑tested frameworks for redesigning learning environments around what science shows students need to thrive: safety, belonging, strong relationships, agency, and meaningful challenge.
​
Public Microschools (“Schools Within Schools”)
Interested districts may pilot small, district‑operated microschool classrooms embedded within existing schools.
​
These pilots:
Use current staff and facilities
Operate under district governance
Demonstrate feasibility and impact before any broader change
They provide proof—inside real public schools—that redesign is possible.
Clear Documentation and Shared Learning
Participating districts are supported in documenting impacts on student well‑being, engagement, and learning under real‑world conditions, contributing to a growing public evidence base.
​
​
What This Is — and Is Not
This is not:
A mandate
​
A compliance audit
A top‑down reform program
A replacement for district judgment or community voice
This is:
Collaborative
Cost‑neutral within existing resources
Evidence‑based
District‑led
How to Begin
Districts typically start with a confidential briefing to:
Review local student well‑being and engagement data
See what science‑aligned redesign looks like in practice
Determine whether pilot participation fits their community
There is no obligation to proceed beyond an initial conversation.