Every Student Deserves a School Nurse

Every child in this country deserves to show up to school safe, healthy, and ready to learn. More than 40% of school-aged children have been diagnosed with at least one chronic health condition such as asthma, diabetes, severe allergies, epilepsy, or a behavioral or learning condition. Despite the prevalence of these conditions that can become emergencies in the classroom, millions attend schools without a full-time registered nurse. This gap has consequences. School nurses sit at the intersection of child wellbeing and academic success. They are often the only licensed healthcare professional in a school and for many children in rural and low-income communities, the only consistent point of contact with the healthcare system. Every student deserves daily access to a full-time registered nurse, and federal policy should make that a reality.