­Ensuring Access to School Nurses: Lessons And Implications From Maryland And Implications

Overview

School nurses are uniquely positioned to be the first line of defense for children with special health care needs in schools, yet no state, besides Delaware, requires all schools to employ a full-time nurse.  As a result, most states, including Maryland, contain schools that lack one.  This is problematic given the high percentage of students in the U.S. who require a school nurse to effectively manage chronic health conditions in school.  This issue brief explores the problem of inadequate school nurse coverage and, using Maryland as an example, makes the case for mandatory staffing laws in the states.