Supporting Student Health and Learning: Outcomes of Vermont School-Based Health Centers

Since their inception in the 1990s, School-Based Health Centers (SBHCs) in Vermont have largely been conceived and sustained through the interest and investment of local communities. Vermont does not have a formal SBHC state policy, dedicated funding, or coordinated technical assistance. Recognizing the need to better understand and support SBHCs in our state, we conducted the first exploratory study of SBHC utilization in Vermont. Data were collected from six SBHCs operating in 16 different schools in Vermont over 2 weeks in the winter of 2025. We sought to determine reasons for seeking care as well as the time saved in learning. The main reasons for seeking care in SBHCs in Vermont were acute illnesses, followed by mental health concerns. However, a wide range of services were also provided, including physical therapy and ophthalmological exams. Over 80% of students returned to class after being seen in a Vermont SBHC, saving, on average, 3.67 hr of instructional time compared to seeking that service outside of the school setting. SBHC services thus were shown to reduce time away from school and minimize disruptions for caregivers who might otherwise need to take children to appointments. Findings from this study have the potential to inform future state policy development and underscore the role that SBHCs can play to promote access to care and to reduce school absenteeism.