Whereas, Concussions are a type of Traumatic Brain Injury that require a balance between cognitive rest and reduced activity with a gradual return to both that will allow optimal brain recovery. Students who endure the symptoms of concussion may experience an increase in psychological and academic stress, and poor academic performance; and
Whereas, When a student is determined to have sustained a concussion, a medical professional can provide an individualized Return to Learn plan indicating guidelines and accommodations needed to optimize post-concussive cognitive recovery, allowing the student to safely progress through stages of recovery that include gradually returning to physical and cognitive activity; and
Whereas, Academic accommodations can minimize the detrimental impact of a concussion on academic progress and grades. A Return to Learn (RTL) plan helps provide a balance between promoting recovery from the brain injury by reducing the student’s cognitive load while at the same time preventing them from falling too far behind in the classroom, which would add additional psychological stress; and
Whereas, Failure to implement an individualized Return to Learn (RTL) plan provided by a medical professional may cause prolonged and exacerbated concussion symptoms and recovery from the brain injury. Further academic complications may occur from the inability to match pre-concussion academic levels during recovery; and
Whereas, National and federal clinical guidelines recommend a high standard of Return to Learn academic support for post-concussive cognitive recovery. While there are laws for students with concussions in all fifty states pertaining to the safe return to physical activity, known as Return to Play, not all states have Return to Learn laws; therefore be it
Resolved, That National PTA and its constituent associations encourage the education of all school personnel and larger community regarding the cognitive impact of a concussion on all students, and the need to follow nationally recognized concussion protocols for physical and cognitive recovery for all concussed students; and be it further
Resolved, That National PTA and its constituent associations support nationwide policy change in schools that includes nationally recognized concussion recovery protocols that include individualized Return to Learn plans to optimize a safe return to cognitive activity for all concussed students; and be it further
Resolved, That National PTA and its constituent associations encourage schools and community based educational organizations to collaborate and encourage their members to support Return to Learn Practices that focus on academic support aimed at counteracting concussions' negative effect on academic progress and grades; and be it further
Resolved, That this resolution shall be in full force and effect until the last day of June 2032.
Adopted: by the 2025 Convention Delegates