Diabetes at school, by state

Type 1 diabetes at school in District of Columbia

What District of Columbia law and the state’s own guidance say about insulin, glucagon, supplies and phones at school, with each source quoted. Checked 2026-10-06.

Can trained school staff give insulin?

Yes

A school employee or agent who is trained and certified under D.C. Code § 38-651.04 may give medication to a student with a valid medication action plan, under the general supervision of a licensed health practitioner (D.C. Code § 38-651.05). The statute covers medication in general and does not name insulin. (code.dccouncil.gov)

Can trained school staff give glucagon?

Yes

Trained and certified school staff may give a student's prescribed medication under D.C. Code § 38-651.05. Under D.C. Code § 38-651.06, each public school must designate at least 2 staff certified to give undesignated emergency medications, which include glucagon (D.C. Code § 38-651.01). (code.dccouncil.gov)

Can a student carry supplies and manage diabetes at school?

Yes

With a valid medication action plan, a student may possess and self-administer medication at school, at school-sponsored activities, and on school transportation to treat an illness (D.C. Code § 38-651.02). Discipline for misuse may not limit the student's access to prescribed medication (D.C. Code § 38-651.10). The statute does not name diabetes. (code.dccouncil.gov)

Does the state publish a diabetes care plan form or guidelines?

With limits

DC Health publishes a general Medication and Medical Procedure Treatment Plan form for school medication and procedures. No diabetes-specific DMMP form or diabetes guideline from DC Health or OSSE was found. (dchealth.dc.gov (PDF))

Can a student keep a phone for the CGM in class?

No source found

No D.C. Code section or OSSE or DC Health guidance on CGM or phone use for diabetes at school was found. The DCPS district phone policy is described in the notes. We found no statute or state agency page that answers this for District of Columbia. Ask the school nurse or the state Department of Education, and see the American Diabetes Association’s District of Columbia page.

Also in District of Columbia

D.C. Public Schools (the city's school system, not OSSE) states that each school must have 3 staff trained to give medication, 2 of them specially trained to manage diabetes. The DCPS Student Cell Phone and Electronic Device Policy (August 2025) restricts phones bell to bell, and IEP, 504, or Individualized Health Care Plan teams consider technology a student needs for medical needs. (dcps.dc.gov; dcps.dc.gov (PDF))

Federal law applies in every state

Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act can cover a student with diabetes at a public school in every state, whatever the state law says; a 504 plan is where the student’s care at school is written down. The federal rules, with sources.

Sources, quoted

• code.dccouncil.gov: “An employee or agent trained and certified pursuant to § 38-651.04 may administer medication to a student with a valid medication action plan; provided, that: (1) The responsible person has delivered the medication to be administered to the school; (2) The employee or agent is under the general supervision of licensed health practitioner;”
• code.dccouncil.gov: “Administer medication to students with valid medication action plans who are not authorized to possess that medication or are not competent to self-administer the medication;”
• code.dccouncil.gov: “Designate at least 2 employees or agents of the school to be certified in the use of undesignated emergency medications who are available to administer medications during all hours of the school day;”
• code.dccouncil.gov: “"Undesignated emergency medications" means: (A) Albuterol; (B) Glucagon; and (C) Any other medication designated by the Department of Health by rule pursuant to § 38-651.12 that would be administered in emergency circumstances to a student without a prescription for that medication on file with the school.”
• code.dccouncil.gov: “A student may possess and self-administer medication or non-medication seizure treatment at the school in which the student is currently enrolled, at school-sponsored activities, and while on school-sponsored transportation, in order to treat asthma, anaphylaxis, a seizure disorder, or other illness;”
• code.dccouncil.gov: “provided, that disciplinary action shall not limit or restrict the access of a student to his or her prescribed medication.”
• dchealth.dc.gov (PDF): “Use this form to detail your student's medication and/or medical procedure plan to be administered at their school and return it to the Health Suite Personnel.”
• dcps.dc.gov: “Each school is required to have three staff trained to administer medication to students, and two of these staff must be specially trained to manage diabetes.”
• dcps.dc.gov (PDF): “the relevant Individualized Education Program (IEP) team, Limited English Proficiency (LEP) plan team, and/or Section 504 teams should collaborate to consider the appropriate technology to support the student's learning needs, access needs, and/or medical needs and should provide educational and/or assistive technology supports as appropriate.”

Legal information, not legal advice. Laws change; the source page is the authority when it differs, and this page is rechecked each July. For help with a school, the American Diabetes Association’s legal advocates answer at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383).