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The research showing that teachers can only affect thirty percent of factors impacting student academic achievement is well-known (see The Best Places To Learn What Impact A Teacher & Outside Factors Have On Student Achievement). Health issues – both physical and mental – are included in those outside factors (see “Kids who get health insurance are more likely to finish high school and college”).

Though, as far as I know, there hasn’t yet been research connecting Obamacare to higher academic achievement, I suspect that those results will be found (let me know if you are aware of any related research). I assume it’s still too soon.

One group left out of Obamacare were the undocumented.

That omission is beginning to change here in California.

Beginning on May 16th, undocumented children under the age of 18th will be eligible for Medi-Cal, the state-run health insurance program for low-income residents. It covers both physical and mental health issues, which will be a huge help for many of our students who have experience trauma, particularly unaccompanied minors from Central America.

Of course, it will still be a challenge to find an adequate number of providers who accept Medi-Cal, but it’s a great start.

You can find more information about the expansion at:

Medi-Cal will soon cover children in the U.S. illegally. The real battle? Getting adults insured is from The L.A. Times.

New Law Will Expand Medi-Cal to 170K Undocumented Children

California’s Health for All Kids Medi-Cal Expansion (English and Spanish resources)

You might also be interested in The Best Interactives Showing How Obamacare Works.