Why School Personnel Need to Be Grief-Informed
Grief is an often overlooked but widespread challenge among school-aged children. While schools focus on academic achievement, few are equipped to address the emotional realities students face after a significant loss. For many children, the death of a loved one disrupts not just their personal lives but also their ability to focus, learn, and connect at school.
The Reality of Childhood Grief
Grief in childhood is far more common than many realize. According to Judi’s House, 1 in 12 children will experience the death of a parent or sibling before they turn 18. This number doesn’t include other significant losses, such as the deaths of grandparents, friends, or extended family members, which can also deeply affect a child.
For schools, this means that in every classroom, there are likely students carrying the weight of grief. Yet, many educators and staff feel unprepared to offer the support these students need.
The Impact of Grief on Students
Grief can affect children’s emotional well-being, academic performance, and behavior. Research shows that grieving students often face:
Declines in Academic Achievement: Grief impacts concentration, memory, and motivation. Students may struggle to complete assignments, retain information, or engage in learning.
Increased Absenteeism: Children experiencing grief may miss school due to emotional overwhelm, family responsibilities, or a lack of motivation to attend.
Behavioral Changes: Grief can manifest as anger, withdrawal, anxiety, or acting out in the classroom. These behaviors are often misunderstood as discipline issues rather than signs of unprocessed grief.
Social Isolation: Grieving students may feel different from their peers, leading to loneliness and disconnection.
Without proper support, these challenges can compound, affecting students' long-term emotional health and educational outcomes.
Schools Are Missing Key Opportunities for Support
Despite the clear impact of grief on students, schools are often ill-equipped to address it. A startling statistic reveals that only 3% of school districts offer grief and loss training for their staff. This means most educators, counselors, and administrators lack the tools to recognize or support grieving students effectively.
This gap leaves grieving children feeling invisible and unsupported, while school staff—though well-meaning—are unsure how to respond. Grief-informed training empowers educators to address grief confidently, fostering an environment where students can feel seen, supported, and understood.
Why Schools Should Become Grief-Informed
Creating a Safe and Supportive Environment: Grief-informed schools help normalize conversations about loss, creating spaces where students feel safe sharing their experiences and emotions.
Improving Student Outcomes: Providing grief support can improve focus, attendance, and academic performance. When students feel supported emotionally, they are more likely to thrive academically.
Equipping Educators with Tools: Grief training gives teachers, counselors, and school staff practical strategies to recognize signs of grief, communicate effectively with grieving students, and offer meaningful support.
Building a Compassionate School Culture: A grief-informed school culture not only helps students cope with loss but also fosters empathy and connection among the entire school community.
The Path Forward
Grief is not something students “get over.” It’s an ongoing experience that requires understanding and support. Schools have a unique opportunity to make a difference in the lives of grieving students by becoming grief-informed. Offering grief training for school personnel ensures that every child who walks through the school doors feels seen, supported, and cared for—no matter what they are facing.
Investing in grief-informed education is an investment in the emotional well-being and success of students. Because no child should have to navigate grief alone, especially in a place where they spend most of their days: their school.
Are you ready to make your school grief-informed? Learn how you can access training and resources to better support grieving students.
