Why Schools Might Be the Sole Healthcare Access Point for Some Black Children

For numerous children, the school nurse serves merely as a caretaker for minor injuries or a fever check. However, for many Black students, that nurse represents their sole healthcare provider throughout the year. If House Republicans succeed with the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, this critical resource might vanish. Medicaid, the primary federal funding source for school health services, faces proposed cuts exceeding $715 billion, threatening vital programs like speech and mental health services. “Removing such support is unethical,” asserts Lauren Reliford, policy director at the Children's Defense Fund. The Economic Policy Institute reveals over half of Black children under 19 depend on public health insurance, underscoring the urgent need for school-based health centers (SBHCs). Experts warn that diminished services exacerbate existing disparities for Black students, jeopardizing their educational outcomes.