Sponsors (5)
The bill would substantially expand access to school nurses — improving student health, attendance, and learning (especially in high-need districts) — but does so at increased federal and local cost, with potential inequities, administrative and privacy trade-offs, and uncertain long-term funding.
Students in participating schools — especially those in high-need districts — will gain regular access to full-time school nurses, improving day-of-school management of chronic conditions and acute care.
Students and schools will likely see reduced absenteeism and improved learning outcomes because better on-site health services remove health-related barriers to education.
Low-income school districts (≥20% NSLP) can hire nurses with up to 75% federal funding, lowering local staffing costs and expanding access where need is concentrated.
Local school districts and taxpayers will face higher costs to hire full-time nurses (salaries and benefits) if districts strive to staff every school.
The federal authorization uses open-ended language ("such sums as necessary") for FY2026–2030, creating uncertainty about total federal spending and potential taxpayer exposure.
Grantees must often commit to continued local funding as the federal share declines over time, which could create unsustainable budget pressures for districts after initial grants end.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Creates a competitive federal grant program to pay up to 75% (declining over time) of costs to hire school nurses in high‑need public K–12 schools for FY2026–2030.
Introduced May 7, 2025 by Alice Costandina Titus · Last progress May 7, 2025
Creates a federal competitive grant program to help public K–12 school districts hire more registered school nurses by paying up to 75% of costs (with the federal share declining over the life of multi‑year grants). Grants target high‑need local education agencies, districts with large shares of students eligible for free/reduced lunch, or districts with no current nurse coverage; applications must report nurse staffing, student acuity, and nurse workload. The program is authorized for fiscal years 2026–2030 and requires the Secretary of Education to report on effectiveness within two years of first awards to a given LEA.