Chronic Health Conditions

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Why it works

Many students have chronic health conditions (asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, severe allergies, and others) that can affect attendance, participation, and safety. Schools support them through health plans (often 504 plans or individualized healthcare plans), and teachers play a real role: knowing the student's needs and health plan, supporting full participation and catching up after absences, reducing stigma, and knowing and being ready to follow emergency procedures. The teacher supports and stays vigilant; the school nurse and medical professionals handle medical care.

The research: Guidance on managing chronic health conditions in schools.

The run-of-show

Choose your slot. The agenda, timings, and length update to match.

The core activity: prepare to support a health condition

Teachers leave knowing a student's health plan, the emergency steps, and how to support participation.

For a student with a chronic health condition, learn the health plan, needs, and triggers.
Know exactly what to do in an emergency and who to call.
Plan how you support full participation and catching up after absences.
Coordinate with the school nurse and family, and reduce stigma.

Know the plan, support the student, follow the proceduresYour role is knowing the student's health plan and needs, supporting participation, and following emergency procedures, medical care is the nurse's. Be prepared and vigilant.

Facilitator notes

Know the health plan, needs, and emergency procedures.
Support participation and catch-up, and reduce stigma.
Coordinate with nurse and family; medical care is not your role.

Not knowing the emergency plan is dangerousFor some conditions, a teacher who does not know the emergency procedure puts a student at risk. Learn the health plan and emergency steps before you need them.

Adapt it

Elementary: health plan, participation, emergency readiness.
Secondary: health plan, catch-up, discreet support.
All settings: know the plan, support, follow procedures.

Participant handout

One page for every teacher. Print it, or save it as a PDF.

K12 Academics · Professional Learning

Chronic Health Conditions: know the plan

Support and vigilance: know the health plan and emergency steps, support participation, coordinate with the nurse.

The student health plan, needs, and triggers:
Exactly what to do in an emergency and who to call:
How I support participation and catch-up:
My coordination with the nurse and family:
How I reduce stigma:

Make it stick

Know the plan, support:

Know the plan and emergency steps.
Support participation.
Coordinate with the nurse.

Common questions

Am I responsible for a student's medical care?

No. Medical care is for the school nurse and health professionals. Your role is knowing the student's health plan and needs, supporting participation, and following emergency procedures if they arise.

What do I most need to know?

The student's health plan, their specific needs and triggers, what to watch for, and exactly what to do in an emergency (and who to call). Know this before you need it.

How do I support participation?

Allow for the accommodations in the plan (breaks, medication times, missed work), help the student catch up after absences without penalty, and reduce any stigma. Keep them included and on track.