Reports and Research

Youth mental health has reached crisis levels in California, where 94% of young people ages 14–25 report mental health concerns in an average month, yet the state's school-based system remains largely reactive, eligibility-driven, and out of reach for many general education students. California public schools currently operate at a 527:1 student-to-counselor ratio, more than double the recommended standard, and no state law requires universal mental health screening or preventative care for students who do not qualify under federal disability frameworks. In this Student Issue Brief, Yasmin Madjidi (JD '26) examines the structural gaps in California's school-based mental health framework, analyzes key federal and state funding streams, including IDEA, Medi-Cal, and the Local Control Funding Formula, and recommends that California mandate universal screening, expand Medi-Cal reimbursement for preventative services, and link funding to accountability measures that ensure investments translate into meaningful improvements for students.