Parental rights group raises concerns over increased health clinics in schools

WASHINGTON (TND) — Health clinics are popping up at public schools across the country which feature nurses, doctors and even psychologists for students.

A parental rights group warns that the intent of these health centers to help improve academics by promoting mental and physical well-being isn't actually happening.

Parents Defending Education Director of Outreach Erika Sanzi joined The National Desk’s Jan Jeffcoat to discuss the issue.

“Well, one of the intents is to help low-income families have access to primary care services. So the idea was a little bit broad because they would say we can end the cycle of poverty and increase educational achievement by eliminating barriers to primary care services.”

The theory is that if you can improve a child's physical and mental well-being then you can also possibly improve test scores and academic achievement. A 2020 report by the University of Arkansas showed school achievement scores and even attendance did not reflect any consistent improvement.

Sanzi says that these health centers are also referred to as “wraparound services” and that the idea is to have the school and these services wrap around the child and family.

“The red flags for me are that this goes well beyond checking for a fever, doing an annual dental exam, swabbing somebody for strep and quickly doing a sports physical. What we're seeing now is mental health services, and also sex and reproductive health services, in addition to that, it’s what's called gender-affirming care,” Sanzi said. “The reason that I'm concerned about these is because there's no requirement for parents to be notified in to many of these places.”