In the United States, there are approximately 65,000 school nurses to care for 52 million elementary and secondary school students. An estimated 10 to 20 percent of the nation’s 52 million schoolchildren have healthcare needs that require the care of a school nurse. Unfortunately, the number of school nurses is inadequate to provide them with appropriate care. The reason is obvious: school nurses, on average, are responsible for over 1,100 students, and as a result, the quality of healthcare in many schools suffers. 

New legislation, the Student-to-School Nurse Ratio Improvement Act of 2009 (H.R. 2730/S. 2750), would provide the resources needed to hire additional school nurses so that more children have access to care in their schools.

Urge your members of Congress to support this important bill.