[ FOR COUNSELORS ]
Nexus for school counselors
Nexus is a study assistant, not a counselor. What your school should decide about flags, hours, review and mandated reporting before any student starts.
[ FOR COUNSELORS ]
A study assistant, not a counselor
Nexus is for schoolwork. It is not a counselor, a therapist or a crisis service, and it should never act like one. When a student needs a person, the right design points them to one quickly, and lets the school decide in advance who that person is.
The stakes are real. Common Sense Media rated major chatbots (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Meta AI) "Unacceptable" for teen mental health support in November 2025, and found that guardrails weaken in long chats. Nexus is a study assistant, not a counselor. Before any student uses Nexus at your school, we set up a safety route with you.
What a school should decide before students start
Whatever AI your school approves, settle these in writing first:
- Who receives a flag: a trained counselor or designee, not every teacher, plus a backup.
- Hours: when flags are read, and what happens outside those hours.
- Review first: a person reviews each flag before anyone reaches out.
- No automatic police contact: nothing goes to law enforcement automatically.
- Mandated reporting: abuse disclosures follow your school's own reporting process.
- What students are told, in plain words: what can lead to a safety review, and who sees it.
What to avoid: monitoring that labels students
Automated monitoring has a record of false alarms. In Lawrence, Kansas, school officials judged almost two-thirds of more than 1,200 Gaggle alerts to be non-issues. About half of monitored high schoolers agreed they hold back their true thoughts or ideas online because they may be monitored.
Nexus does not score students' moods or mental health, and it does not label students. It does not infer emotion, ability, disability or family life.
Maryland: reporting duties
In Maryland, educators who have reason to believe a child is abused or neglected must report it orally as soon as possible and in writing within 48 hours, and must also tell the head of the school. Because teachers can read class chats, a disclosure in a class chat can put a mandated reporter on notice. Decide in advance who sees such messages and how fast.
Why Nexus calls itself a study assistant
Several states now regulate companion-style chatbots. California's SB 243, in force since Jan 1, 2026, requires AI disclosure and a published self-harm protocol with crisis referral, and its exclusions do not mention education. New York requires crisis protocols with a 988 referral for AI companions, and Washington's HB 2225, effective Jan 1, 2027, bars manipulative engagement with minors while exempting narrowly tailored, curriculum-aligned school tools. Nexus is built for schoolwork, not companionship. Read state AI chatbot laws and schools.
In the web and mobile apps, Nexus describes itself as a study assistant.
Crisis resources
If a student is in danger now, call 911. If a student is thinking about self-harm, they can call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Keep your school's own counselor contacts where students can find them.
[ FAQ ]
Questions and answers
Is Nexus a mental health tool?
No. Nexus is a study assistant, not a counselor. When a student needs a person, the school's route points them to one.
Does Nexus alert counselors?
Nexus is a study assistant, not a counselor. Before any student uses Nexus at your school, we set up a safety route with you.
Does Nexus contact parents or police?
No. Nexus does not contact students or parents directly, and nothing goes to the police automatically. Abuse disclosures follow your school's reporting process.
Does Nexus analyze students' emotions?
No. Nexus does not score moods or mental health, infer emotion, or label students.
[ SOURCES ]
Sources
Facts checked Oct 18, 2026.
- 1Common Sense Media, major AI chatbots and teen mental health supportNov 20, 2025 · commonsensemedia.org
- 2Common Sense Media, AI risk assessmentsRead Oct 18, 2026 · institute.commonsensemedia.org
- 3Associated Press, schools using AI surveillanceAug 7, 2025 · yahoo.com
- 4Education Week, software that monitors students may hurt some it's meant to help (CDT survey)Aug 8, 2022 · edweek.org
- 5Maryland Family Law 5-704 (reporting by educators)Read Oct 18, 2026 · mgaleg.maryland.gov
- 6California SB 243 (companion chatbots)Oct 13, 2025 · leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
- 7New York General Business Law 1700 and following (AI companions)Nov 7, 2025 · nysenate.gov
- 8Washington HB 2225, session law (chapter 168)Mar 24, 2026 · lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov
[ AI FOR SCHOOLS ]
The AI your school can approve.