Megan Kuhfeld, NWEA’s director of growth modeling and analytics, says that although the organization’s data cannot establish whether there is a direct link between girls’ mental health post-pandemic and the STEM achievement gap, “it is definitely possible that there is a connection here.”
“However, it is unclear why mental health challenges would have a disproportionately negative effect on girls’ math and science, but not reading. Further research is needed to better understand the causes of this shift in the STEM gap,” she adds.
Technology Tools and Equitable Support Benefit All Students
K–12 schools are already using various AI tools to monitor student wellness. One example is GoGuardian Beacon, which analyzes online activity across school-issued devices to alert designated school responders when a student is at risk of self-harm. These kinds of tools help educators and administrators identify the early warning signs of students who are at risk of harming themselves or others before they reach a point of crisis.
In Clements’s previous roles as school counselor and director of counseling services, and now in her current role at GoGuardian, she experienced firsthand the importance of detecting warning signs early to allow for timely intervention during a mental health crisis.
DISCOVER: Tech-powered mental health initiatives save students’ lives.
She points to a recent study, which found that youth suicide rates were significantly lower (26%) in counties that actively used GoGuardian Beacon from 2021-2022, even when accounting for demographic or regional differences. Beacon is estimated to have prevented 18,623 students from physical harm since 2020 through its detection and alerting platform.
Aside from adopting tech tools that offer monitoring and support, Kuhfeld emphasizes that the academic world should remain aware of how conversations about gender and education are framed.
“There’s been growing attention recently to the idea that boys and men are being ‘left behind’ and that we need to make learning environments more supportive for them. That’s an important conversation. But it’s striking that when women and girls have historically lagged behind, the common response has often been to suggest that they should adapt; for instance, by acting more assertive, speaking up more or ‘leaning in,’” Kuhfeld says.
