School May Be the Only Doctor Some Black Kids Ever See

June 26, 2025

The proposed One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a key component of President Trump's domestic agenda, threatens to cut $715 billion from Medicaid, potentially eliminating crucial school-based health services for many students. These cuts would disproportionately impact Black children, who rely on school-based health centers at much higher rates than their white peers (51. 2% compared to 23.

Who is affected

Black children under 19 who rely on public health insurance (more than half of all Black children in this age group)
Students in under-resourced schools where school-based health centers provide their only healthcare access
Black and Brown children who are already often failed by the educational system
Students who receive services like speech therapy, occupational therapy, mental health counseling, and behavioral health care through school-based Medicaid programs
Children who live at the intersection of race, ethnicity, citizenship status, gender identity, and disabilities

What action is being taken

House Republicans are working toward passing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
School districts are bracing for the impact if the legislation becomes law
The Children's Defense Fund is advocating against the Medicaid cuts
School-based health centers are currently providing essential health services to students

Why it matters

School-based health services are often the only healthcare many Black students receive all year
Research shows these services improve student attendance (5.4-7 additional school days per year)
Studies demonstrate a positive correlation between access to health centers and academic performance
Nearly 70% of district leaders anticipate cutting school-based mental and behavioral health services if Medicaid funding is reduced
Black students already face higher rates of school-based trauma and fewer support systems

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint