History of IDEA
Jeannie Oakes, Founder and Former Director
Youth Voice in School Finance
NEW REPORT: Los Angeles' road to A-G for all
Without Dollars and Sense Powerpoint
Past Educational Opportunity Reports
Promise of new school health centers falters with lack of state funding
- 01-18-2011
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By Louis Freedberg/Contra Costa Times
Two of the state's largest districts are undergoing a major expansion of health centers on school campuses after promised help from Sacramento never came. To build new facilities, Oakland and Los Angeles are tapping voter-approved bond money, fees from Medi-Cal and health insurance reimbursements, and philanthropic dollars. Health advocates hope these efforts spur similar initiatives around the state. California lags behind many other states in the number and scope of school-based health services, despite evidence that students who use health centers have better health and education outcomes. Among nearly 10,000 schools in the state, only 176 school health centers exist for more than 6 million children. Eight centers will be built in Oakland -- added to seven existing ones. Some of the operating costs will be covered by a $15 million grant from New York-based Atlantic Philanthropies and $6 million from Kaiser Permanente. Construction is being underwritten by a bond measure Oakland voters approved in 2006. Los Angeles Unified is building 17 health centers, complementing the 32 it has set up over the past several decades. More than four years ago, then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced a plan to add 500 health centers at elementary schools throughout California, but not a single one opened. (more…)
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