Virginia Lawmakers Consider Mandating School Nurses Amid Persistent Healthcare Gaps
Virginia is currently debating whether to mandate full-time licensed nurses in every public school, as nearly 10% of schools operate without one. This initiative aims to close critical healthcare gaps for students, who often have complex medical conditions requiring professional oversight. While most school divisions employ nurses, current state laws permit their presence rather than requiring it. Legislators and experts are exploring updates to the state’s Standards of Quality (SOQ), which dictate school funding requirements, to include mandatory full-time licensed nurse positions. A report on this matter is expected to be presented to the state’s School Health Services Committee next month. Previous legislative efforts, including a 2020 bill by then-state Sen. Jen Kiggans and former Del. Dawn Adams, failed to advance due to requests for more data. As of the 2024-2025 school year, 90.1% of Virginia’s public schools had a licensed nurse, with registered nurses making up 69.9% and licensed practical nurses ...