Sponsors (5)
The bill would expand access to school nurses—especially in high-need districts—improving student health, safety, and learning, but it increases costs, administrative/privacy burdens, and can leave some districts or students without support due to eligibility and staffing limits.
Students—especially in high-need schools—gain substantially increased access to school nurses, improving management of chronic conditions and acute care during the school day (fewer emergencies, better on-site care).
Low-income districts (≥20% NSLP) can hire nurses with up to 75% federal funding, lowering local staffing costs and making nurse hires financially feasible for many high-need LEAs.
Students experience fewer missed school days and better learning conditions because improved health services (immunizations, on-site care, chronic condition management, and mental-health supports) reduce absenteeism and health-related learning barriers.
Taxpayers and local districts face higher costs (salaries, benefits, and program operations); districts may face long-term budget pressure as federal shares decline over time.
Students in smaller, lower-need, or wealthier LEAs that fall below the ≥20% NSLP threshold may be left without new federal support, so some needy students could remain uncovered.
Districts with staffing shortages (rural or under-resourced areas) may struggle to recruit/retain nurses, producing uneven rollout and leaving some communities without immediate benefits.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Establishes a competitive grant program to fund school nurse hiring in high-need public K–12 schools, with federal shares up to 75% and authorizations for FY2026–2030.
Creates a competitive federal grant program to pay part of the cost for hiring and placing registered school nurses in public elementary and secondary schools, prioritizing high-need local education agencies and districts with no nurse coverage. Grants may fund nurses who serve multiple districts, limit the federal share to 75% (declining over time for multiyear awards), allow waivers for local hardship, require applicant data on current nurse coverage and student health needs, and authorize appropriations for FY2026–2030.
Official title: To make demonstration grants to eligible local educational agencies or consortia of eligible local educational agencies for the purpose of increasing the numbers of school nurses in public elementary schools and secondary schools.
Introduced May 7, 2025 by Alice Costandina Titus · Last progress May 7, 2025