Protecting Healthcare Is Protecting Student Learning
Statement from Denise Forte, President and CEO of EdTrust

WASHINGTON (October 1, 2025) — Denise Forte, president and CEO of EdTrust, issued the following statement on the ongoing budget negotiations in Congress:

“The sticking point in today’s budget fight is healthcare subsidies. While this debate isn’t directly about the education funding streams that schools rely on for student health services (e.g., Medicaid, IDEA, Title IV-A), it’s still a timely moment to remind policymakers that health coverage is essential to education equity — from reducing chronic absenteeism to supporting students with disabilities. The connections between health and learning cannot be ignored.

“As Congress continues to negotiate a final FY26 appropriations bill, protecting these connections between is critical.

“Here are just a few reasons why protecting healthcare is so important for learning outcomes:

• Students stay healthy and engaged in school: For students from low-income backgrounds, poor health is a barrier to education. When we provide access to preventive care, help manage chronic illness, and offer mental health services, students can show up and learn.
• Rural and underserved communities can catch up: 80% of U.S. counties contain healthcare deserts. Schools are vital to filling that void for students and making sure students in healthcare deserts remain in school and engaged.
• Students can energize their brains: Black and Latino students are most likely to attend high-poverty schools. Even though free- and reduced-lunches are run through the Department of Agriculture, it is a key part of nutrition and healthcare. Keeping students fed keeps them healthy and their brains working.

“As policy and legislative experts debate the futures of both education and healthcare, it’s vital they remember the nexus between the two.”

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