Episode

Kids are at a breaking point, and school policies might be to blame

Podcast: Hyperfocus with Rae Jacobson
Published: Jan 15, 2026
Duration seconds: 2494
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Canonical source: https://www.understood.org/en/podcasts/hyperfocus/american-schools-adhd-autism-ny-times
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Summary

U.S. kids are more depressed, stressed, and anxious than ever. ADHD and autism diagnosis rates are steadily rising. What’s going on? In this episode of Hyperfocus, journalist Jia Lynn Yang joins Rae to examine how major school policy shifts in the U.S. have changed what’s expected of kids, often with unintended — and serious — consequences. Drawing from her New York Times reporting and her personal experience as a parent, Jia Lynn explores whether school itself may be contributing to the crisis — and what kids actually need to thrive.