At the National Education Association, we believe that public education thrives when students and families have access to affordable, comprehensive health care and safe, healthy learning environments. When children’s physical, mental, and behavioral health needs are met, they are better able to attend school consistently, focus on learning, and reach their full potential.
Affordable, dependable health care is also critical for recruiting and retaining a strong educator workforce. Yet many educators, especially education support professionals, early career educators, adjunct and contingent faculty, and part-time school staff, still struggle with high premiums, rising prescription drug costs, and limited access to mental health services. These challenges contribute to workforce stress and instability at a time when districts nationwide are confronting severe staffing shortages.
When educators cannot afford or access the care they need, students feel the impact through higher turnover, reduced stability, and learning environments stretched thin. Improving access to health care keeps experienced educators in our schools and helps attract the next generation of school professionals. Healthy educators create healthy classrooms.
NEA is fighting to protect and expand access to quality, affordable health care for students, families, and school employees. Our work includes strengthening mental health supports in schools, improving workplace and classroom safety, and pushing back against efforts to weaken the public health programs that millions of people depend on.
NEA advocates for policies and programs that:
- Protect access to affordable health insurance for all educators and their families
- Strengthen mental health supports in schools and workplaces
- Provide safe, hazard-free environments for all staff and students
- Expand preventative care options to keep educators healthy year-round
- Reduce prescription drug costs and ensure equitable care
- Defend and strengthen essential health programs, such as Medicaid, which delivers physical, mental, and behavioral health services in schools, including those with disabilities
Ensuring that every student, educator, and school employee can access the care they need strengthens public education. A strong health care system helps families stay secure, reduces barriers to learning, and builds healthier, more resilient school communities. When we prioritize health care, we strengthen opportunity, equity, and the promise of public education for generations to come.
Suggested Further Reading
Speak Up For Students and Public Schools
