School-based health workers urged Congress to treat student health needs as inseparable from learning outcomes during a House briefing tied to the next fiscal year budget. Panelists from the School-Based Health Alliance, the American School Counselor Association, the National Association of School Psychologists, and other health professions argued schools need more multidisciplinary capacity rather than siloed interventions. Speakers pointed to federal staffing gaps: most schools do not meet recommended student-to-health-worker ratios for counselors, psychologists, social workers, or full-time nurses. They also emphasized the evidence link between students’ physical and mental wellbeing and academic performance. The briefing’s focus on who provides care and what policies support it connects to student success directly—especially as behavioral, social-emotional, and mental health concerns rise across K-12 settings. For higher education industry professionals advising on pipeline programs and community partnerships, the immediate relevance is clear: upstream school health capacity affects feeder patterns, learning readiness, and postsecondary support burdens.