Delaware lawmakers eye bill mandating school health centers

New bill would require Delaware public high schools, not charter schools, to have on-site health centers.

The House Education Committee is set to consider a bill requiring all public high schools in Delaware, other than charter schools, to have school-based health centers.

The bill to be discussed Wednesday says the state will pay startup costs for any school that doesn’t have a health center. The state also would fund the operational costs of each center for at least one school per fiscal year until all schools are in compliance.

Currently, only three high schools don’t have school-based health centers. They are Conrad School of Science in Wilmington, and St. Georges Technical High School and Appoquinimink High School, both in Middletown.

Legislative analysts estimate that it would cost about $600,000 over the next three fiscal years to get health centers up and running at the three schools.