Accommodating Students with Diabetes

The school nurse is appointed to:

• Consult and coordinate with the parents and health care providers of students with diabetes; and
• Train and supervise the appropriate staff in the care of students with diabetes.

The district shall develop and follow an individual health plan for each student with diabetes. Each individual health care plan shall include an individual emergency plan element. The health plan shall be updated annually, and more frequently as needed.

In addition to adhering to the requirements of each individual health care plan, for the general care of students with diabetes, the district shall:

• Acquire necessary parent request and instruction for treatment.
• Acquire monitoring and treatment orders from licensed health care providers prescribing within the scope of their licensed authority.
• Provide sufficient and secure storage for medical equipment and medication provided by the parent.
• Permit students with diabetes to perform blood glucose tests, administer insulin, treat hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, with easy access to the necessary supplies, equipment and medication necessary under their individual health care plan. This includes the option for students to carry the necessary supplies, equipment and medication on their person and perform monitoring and treatment functions wherever they are on school grounds or at school sponsored events.
• Permit students with diabetes unrestricted access to necessary food and water on schedule and as need, and unrestricted access to bathroom facilities. When food is served at school events, provision shall be made for appropriate food to be available to students with diabetes.
• School meals shall not be withheld from any student for disciplinary reasons. Students with diabetes shall not miss meals because they are not able to pay for them. The charge for the meal will be billed to the parent or adult student and collected consistent with district policies.
• Each student's individual health care plan shall be distributed to appropriate staff based on the student's needs and the staff member's contact with the student.

Parent-Designated Adult

Parents of students with diabetes may designate an adult to provide care for their student consistent with the student's individual health care plan. At parent request, school district employees may volunteer to be a parent-designated adult under this policy, but they shall not be required to participate. Parent-designated adults who are school employees shall file a voluntary, written, current and unexpired letter of intent stating their willingness to be a parent-designated adult. Parent-designated adults who are school employees are required to receive training in caring for students with diabetes from the school nurse or from a nationally certified diabetes educator. Parent-designated adults who are not school employees are required to show evidence of comparable training, and meet school district requirements for volunteers. Parent-designated adults shall receive additional training from a parent-selected health care professional or expert in diabetic care to provide the care requested by the parent. The school nurse is not responsible for the supervision of procedures authorized by the parent and carried out by the parent-designated adult.

The district, its employees, agents or parent-designated adults who act in good faith and in substantial compliance with a student's individual health care plan and the instructions of the student's health care provider shall not be criminally or civilly liable for services provided under chapter 350, Laws of 2002.

Legal References:

Ch. 350, Laws of 2002

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

PL 101-336 Americans with Disabilities Act

Adoption Date: 7-28-03

St. John - Endicott Cooperative Schools