The NURSE Act would create competitive grants to help eligible school districts and partnerships hire more registered nurses for public elementary and secondary schools. Eligible applicants must serve areas where at least 20 percent of children qualify for the school lunch program. Grants would give priority to high-need applicants, including those with no school nurse or the greatest need for nursing services. The Education Secretary would report to Congress on the program’s results. The bill was introduced and referred to House committees.
If your school district qualifies, it could apply for funding to increase the number of school nurses. State agencies applying with qualifying districts would pass most grant funds to those districts. The bill does not require schools to take part.
The bill authorizes Congress to provide amounts it considers necessary for fiscal years 2026 through 2030, but it does not set a dollar amount. The federal share could not exceed 75 percent of grant costs each year and would decrease in later years of a multiyear grant. The rest could come from state or local funds, private contributions, or in-kind support. The Education Secretary could reduce or waive the nonfederal share for an applicant facing economic hardship.
The bill’s findings say school nurses help manage health conditions, provide preventive and mental health services, and support student health and learning.
No publicly available information.