Health inequities exist largely among socially disadvantaged people who are denied the highest attainable standard of health available to many Americans. Access to culturally competent, high quality, first-contact primary care through school-based health centers is an effective way to reduce health inequities and, therefore, improve health outcomes for socially disadvantaged children and adolescents. School-based health centers (SBHCs) are an important, research-based strategy for creating access to health care and reducing health care disparities among low-income and minority children and adolescents. SBHCs should be an essential part of public health solutions that assure equal opportunities for all children to access needed health care services. (Contains 34 endnotes.)