One School, One Nurse Act of 2023 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.
The implementation of HB 305 is expected to substantially improve student health services across educational institutions. By mandating the presence of full-time nurses, the bill aims to address health care disparities, particularly for students who lack private health coverage. Research cited in the bill suggests that schools with full-time nurses experience better health outcomes, including reduced absenteeism and improved management of chronic conditions such as asthma and diabetes. This legislation also emphasizes maintaining recommended nurse-to-student ratios, which will likely result in a more sustainable approach to student health services.
House Bill 305, known as the One School, One Nurse Act of 2023, seeks to enhance the health services available in schools by requiring every elementary and secondary school to have at least one full-time registered nurse on staff. The bill establishes a grant program administered by the Department of Education, intended to assist local educational agencies in hiring, retaining, and recruiting school nurses. This initiative is backed by findings indicating that a significant portion of public schools, especially those with higher rates of low-income students, lack adequate nursing staff, leading to disparities in health support for students.
While the bill is generally viewed as a positive step towards improving school health services, there may be contention surrounding its funding and administrative feasibility. Critics may argue about the challenge of efficiently utilizing grant funds and ensuring that local educational agencies can adapt and implement these new requirements effectively. Additionally, there may be discussions regarding the prioritization of funds, particularly in balancing the needs of high-need educational agencies with the overall funding limitations at the state and federal levels.