Caroline Kelly: Investing in Students:  Studying the Expansion of Medicaid Funding in Chicago Public Schools on Employment and Educational Outcomes

This research project focuses on examining how increasing access to health and mental health services improves employment, health, and education outcomes among low-income Chicago Public Schools (CPS) students. This project addresses the root cause of inequitable employment and education outcomes by targeting health service access in schools. Previous research demonstrates that expanding access to health services in the school setting improves education, health, and employment outcomes over the life course (Basch, 2011; Leroy et al., 2016). Public education services, including health services, can help urban children reach their education and career goals and become successful adults. This study examines how the expansion of funding for school health services through the implementation of the Medicaid State Plan Amendment (SPA) in CPS in 2023-2025 improves access to health services and supports the healthy development and pathways into employment for youth. This project will examine the implementation of the SPA in CPS through interviews with district administrators and CPS administrative student health service data. Outcomes of interest include student health service utilization and health, education, and employment outcomes among students. This is the first study to examine the expansion of Medicaid funding for school health services, with important implications for improving health, employment, and education equity for low-income students in Chicago and beyond.