Report: How Medicaid Cuts Will Harm Students & Schools

March 12, 2025

A nationwide survey of K-12 school district leaders shows widespread concern over children’s access to school-based health services if Congress cuts Medicaid.

This report includes survey analysis and dozens of comments from respondents about the expected hardships for students, schools and communities. More than 1,400 school district leaders, including administrators, Medicaid coordinators and health providers from all 50 states and D.C., completed the survey.

Almost half of the respondents are from rural school districts, where more children are covered by Medicaid and schools play an outsize role in providing physical, behavioral and mental healthcare due to provider shortages, long travel distances and limited connectivity.

Related:

• Executive Summary
• Press Release
• Dropbox Graphics Folder – high-res data graphs and quotes from survey participants
• Webinar Recording — get an overview of the proposed cuts and learn about advocacy efforts urging Congress to protect Medicaid

Healthy Schools Campaign (HSC) developed and distributed the survey in partnership with The School Superintendents Association (AASA); Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO); National Alliance for Medicaid in Education (NAME); and Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE).