Bill Overview
Title: One School, One Nurse Act of 2022
Description: This bill directs the Department of Education (ED) to award competitive grants to eligible entities for recruiting, hiring, and retaining school nurses. An eligible entity is a local educational agency (LEA) or a partnership between a state educational agency and a consortium of LEAs in the state. Further, ED must specify in regulation the recommended nurse-to-student ratios for elementary and secondary schools.
Sponsors: Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24]
Target Audience
Population: Students in US public elementary and secondary schools
Estimated Size: 50800000
- There are approximately 50.8 million students in public elementary and secondary schools in the United States, according to 2020 data from the National Center for Education Statistics.
- Many students require medical assistance or healthcare monitoring during school hours, which can be effectively managed by a school nurse.
- Currently, not all schools have a full-time school nurse due to budget constraints or policy priorities, leaving a significant gap in healthcare for students during school hours.
- The presence of a school nurse can impact the health and education outcomes of students, support for teachers, and engagement with parents.
- School nurses are essential for managing chronic conditions, handling emergencies, and providing health education, impacting both physical and mental health.
Reasoning
- The policy is targeted at all public schools, which includes approximately 50.8 million students who could potentially be impacted by having greater access to school nurses.
- The budget constraints and program size limits suggest that not all schools may immediately benefit from the program, and distribution of funds will likely start with high-need areas or larger, underfunded school districts.
- The presence of a school nurse can directly improve student outcomes through better management of chronic conditions, emergencies, and overall health education.
- Additional indirect benefits can include improved attendance rates due to student health maintenance, positive impacts on teachers' workload, and increased parent engagement as health concerns are managed within the school setting.
- A diverse range of school types and student backgrounds should be considered since the impact will vary across rural, suburban, and urban settings.
Simulated Interviews
School Nurse (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy would directly help place more nurses in schools like mine that struggle with resources.
- With more school nurses, we can provide better care to students and tackle health issues timely.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
High School Teacher (Rural Kentucky)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having a school nurse would be a relief; I could focus more on teaching.
- The policy could drastically improve student health management in our school.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Student (Chicago, IL)
Age: 16 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 12.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- A nurse on site would make me and my parents feel safer about managing my asthma at school.
- Current nurse visits are limited and often require leaving school early.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Parent (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy would give us peace of mind as parents knowing trained professionals are available.
- Currently, we’re very anxious about sending our child to school without a nurse.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
School Principal (Dallas, TX)
Age: 33 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Grant funds could allow us to hire a full-time nurse, which would improve our health services.
- I'm concerned the application process will be competitive and we might not get funding.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
State Education Official (New York, NY)
Age: 58 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy has potential but will require careful oversight to ensure equitable resource allocation.
- I'm optimistic about the outcomes in terms of student health and academic performance.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
School District Grant Writer (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Securing this grant would be crucial for our district schools that have no nurses.
- The competition for these grants is expected to be stiff.”
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Student (Houston, TX)
Age: 12 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 20/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I already have a nurse at school, so I’m not sure if it changes much for me.
- It might help other schools that don't have a nurse.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Community Health Worker (Seattle, WA)
Age: 39 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- With more school nurses, we could better coordinate community health education.
- The lack of nurses means much of our work is reactive rather than preventive.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Education Policy Analyst (Boston, MA)
Age: 47 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The success of this policy will depend on its implementation and effective use of resources.
- It could greatly influence student health and achievement if managed well.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $7500000000 (Low: $7000000000, High: $8000000000)
Year 2: $7500000000 (Low: $7000000000, High: $8000000000)
Year 3: $7500000000 (Low: $7000000000, High: $8000000000)
Year 5: $7500000000 (Low: $7000000000, High: $8000000000)
Year 10: $7500000000 (Low: $7000000000, High: $8000000000)
Year 100: $750000000 (Low: $7000000, High: $8000000)
Key Considerations
- Grant implementation and monitoring will be critical to ensure efficient utilization of funds.
- Training and standards for nurses will vary by state and may affect implementation timelines.
- State and local budget contributions could offset some costs but are not guaranteed.