Access to basic and quality healthcare is often limited for families from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Throughout the country, many students come to school from unhealthy living environments, unable to learn and perform to their full potential. Educator, Charles Basch, states simply, “If a health problem is the cause of an educational disparity, the health problem must be statistically and temporally associated with the unfavorable educational outcomes” (see here). Linking education and healthcare may be a key in closing the academic achievement gap.
Schools alone cannot close the achievement gap and will not be able to provide full access to healthcare, nor should they be held single-handedly responsible (see here). The various institutions that impact a student’s life must come together to support maximum growth and work to close the achievement gap. However, Schools must lead this charge and need to begin providing students with resources that they do not have access to outside of the school walls.
Source: Charles E. Basch “Reciprocal Causal Relationship Between Poverty, Health, and Education”
The fact of the matter is that students are unable to fully learn when they are dealing with chronic health conditions (see here). Research has shown that students from low socioeconomic backgrounds disproportionately experience more vision issues, lead exposure, asthma, and have poorer nutrition (see here). These health complications arise from inadequate access to healthcare, racist housing policies, and a variety of economic restrictions (see here). Students who are unable to see the board, hear the lesson, or are unable to focus because they are distracted by a chronic toothache, for instance, are unable to learn as effectively as their students who are not experiencing these various drawbacks. Additionally, Rothstein finds that “children without regular medical care are also more likely to contract other illnesses… that keep them out of school” (see here). Students who are able to get to school while experiencing chronic health issues are undoubtedly at an educational disadvantage, but those who are unable to attend are missing critical in class time.
These various health problems can have lasting impacts on children, not only in their educational growth, but in their future lives. Early health oriented interventions in schools allow for a healthier life overall and can reduce causes of death of children, adolescence, and adults, such as alcohol and drug use, poor eating habits, and more (see Basch).
Source: https://www.ellsworth.af.mil/News/Photos/igphoto/2001702108/
While schools and the healthcare system are two seemingly separate institutions, it is vital that these two become more strategically intertwined to close the academic achievement gap. This is an often overlooked area of reform, yet school-based health centers have the capacity to effectively narrow the gap (see here). Schools can take a vital step in improving the out-of-school lives of students by providing adequate health care, in an easily accessible location, and will therefore improve their in-school achievement.
Post by: Julia Manning