Your child may have a medical condition that requires taking medication during the school day or preparing for a possible medical crisis. If so, you can work with their school to create a plan to address those things.

During the school day, the school is responsible for meeting your child’s needs so that they are available to learn. If your child has medical needs during the school day, you may:

1. Obtain appropriate medical documentation from your child’s doctor.
2. Share this information with the school nurse.
3. Communicate your child’s needs to their teacher and/or Individualized Education Program (IEP) team so that you and the school can work together to create an Individualized Health Plan (IHP). Sometimes, an IHP is part of an IEP or 504 plan, but your child does not have to receive special education services or disability accommodations to have an IHP.

What is included in an IHP?

The IHP contains instructions for the school nurse and other staff about how to provide care for your child. As part of an IHP, the school nurse may:

• Make medical assessments
• Provide direct care
• Manage your child’s case
• Train and educate staff and teachers

The IHP will also include a step-by-step plan on what to do in case of an emergency. If your child’s health care needs are especially complex and they have a home health nurse, an IHP will sometimes include having the home health nurse go to school with your child.

Does the school have to provide care during school activities such as field trips?

Yes, but you may need to work with the school nurse to decide if any additional steps need to be taken, especially if the activity is away from the school or outside the normal school day.