3415P - Accommodating Students with Diabetes Procedures

A. Individual Health Care Plan (IHCP)

All students known to have diabetes must have an IHCP in place at school. The plan must be distributed to appropriate staff, and must include the following information:

1. Provisions for the storage of medical equipment and medication provided by the parent;
2. Provisions for the student to perform tests and treatments anywhere on school grounds including in the classroom and at school-sponsored events, to have easy access to necessary supplies and equipment, and to carry necessary supplies and equipment on their person;
3. A description of the student's school day schedule for the timing of meals, snacks, blood sugar testing, insulin injections, and related activities as appropriate;
4. An individualized emergency care plan that plans for both a health emergency for the student and a school emergency such as an earthquake;
5. Legal documents allowing a parent-designated adult to provide care, if the parent has designated such a person,
6. Any parent requests and instructions, as well as orders from licensed health professionals.

If the student needs medications/treatments while at school, a Medication at School Authorization Form must be completed for each medication/treatment.

The IHCP must be updated at least annually or more frequently if necessary.

B. Food and Drink

Students with diabetes must be allowed to eat or drink whenever and wherever necessary, including on the bus or in other areas where food and drink are generally prohibited. Students with diabetes must have unrestricted access to water and bathroom use. Food or water shall never be withheld as a disciplinary action or because of nonpayment of fees.

C. Parent-Designated Adult (PDA)

A PDA is a volunteer, who may be a school District employee, who receives additional training from a health care professional or expert in diabetic care selected by the parents, and who provides care for the student consistent with the student's IHCP. To be eligible to be a PDA, a school employee who is not a licensed nurse must file a voluntarily written letter of intent with the school nurse. The letter must be dated, and shall be valid for not longer than one year. An employee who is not a licensed nurse and who wants to act as a PDA must file a valid letter of intent each year. No employee who refuses to file such a letter shall be subject to reprisal or disciplinary action. No employee may be coerced into filing such a letter.

A non-employee may become a PDA by filing a letter of intent with the school nurse and by completing the non-school employee training as outlined below. PDAs must receive training as indicated below.

The Nursing Supervisor or nurse designee is not responsible for the supervision of the PDA for those procedures that are authorized by the parents.

Training—School Employees

In-service Training

In schools attended by diabetic students, all school employees must undergo an in-service training on symptoms, treatment, and monitoring of students with diabetes and on the additional observations that may be needed in different situations that may arise during the school day and during school sponsored events.

Specific Training

All school employees who have responsibility for diabetic students must complete training in proper procedures for care of students with diabetes. Either the Nursing Supervisor or his or her nurse designee will offer such training. Such training must include information on individual students' IHCP requirements, as well as information on symptoms, treatment, and monitoring of students with diabetes.

The Nursing Supervisor or nurse designee shall train school employees.

D. Training—PDAs

PDAs who are school employees must undergo both the In-service and the Specific trainings, as outlined above. PDAs who are not school employees must show evidence of comparable training. Additionally, all PDAs must receive training from a health care professional (cannot be a school District nurse) or expert in diabetic care selected by the parents. This additional training is required to allow the PDA to provide the additional care the parents have authorized the PDA to provide such as Blood Sugar monitoring or insulin administration that would otherwise be performed by a health professional licensed under RCW 18.79. Administration of insulin and piercing the skin for blood glucose monitoring cannot be legally delegated to a non-licensed person by the School Nurse.

E. Indemnity

State law provides that a school District, school District employee, agent, or PDA who, acting in good faith and in substantial compliance with the student's IHCP and the instructions of the student's licensed health care professional, provides assistance or services under RCW 28A.210.330 shall not be liable in any criminal action or for civil damages in his or her individual or marital or governmental or corporate or other capacities as a result of the services provided under this law.