Type 1 diabetes at school in Pennsylvania
What Pennsylvania law and the state’s own guidance say about insulin, glucagon, supplies and phones at school, with each source quoted. Checked 2026-10-06.
| Insulin by trained staff | Yes |
| Glucagon by trained staff | Yes |
| Self-carry | Yes |
| State plan or guidelines | Yes |
| Phone for the CGM | Yes |
Can trained school staff give insulin?
Yes
A school employee who is not a licensed health care practitioner and who completes the annual diabetes education may be designated in the student's service agreement or IEP to give diabetes medications. Injection or infusion also needs written authorization from the student's health care practitioner and the parent or guardian (24 P.S. § 14-1414.3, Public School Code § 1414.3). (legis.state.pa.us)
Can trained school staff give glucagon?
Yes
The statute defines diabetes medication as glucagon and insulin, so the same rule applies: a trained, designated employee who is not a licensed health care practitioner may give glucagon with written authorization from the practitioner and the parent or guardian (Public School Code §§ 1414.3, 1414.5). (legis.state.pa.us)
Can a student carry supplies and manage diabetes at school?
Yes
A student may possess and self-administer insulin and glucagon and operate monitoring equipment at school when the parent or guardian provides a written practitioner statement and request, and the school nurse acknowledges in writing that the student is capable. The school may revoke or restrict this for noncompliance (Public School Code § 1414.5). (legis.state.pa.us)
Does the state publish a diabetes care plan form or guidelines?
Yes
The Department of Health and the Department of Education publish "Diabetes in School Children: Recommendations and Resource Guide for School Personnel", which includes a Diabetes Medical Management Plan (DMMP) form. (pa.gov; pa.gov (PDF))
Can a student keep a phone for the CGM in class?
Yes
The Department of Health resource guide tells school staff to enable students to use smartphones and other monitoring technology, and lists smartphone and CGM use as items for the student's plan. It says CGM data and alarms can be shared with school staff in real time. No enacted state statute on phones for diabetes was found. (pa.gov (PDF))
Also in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Act 86 of 2016 added these sections to the Public School Code. The Department of Health describes Act 86 as voluntary for schools. A nonpublic school may choose to follow the same rules. A student's service agreement may require the school to give the school bus driver an information sheet about the student's diabetes. (pa.gov; legis.state.pa.us)
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
- legis.state.pa.us: “may be designated in a student's service agreement or IEP to administer diabetes medications, use monitoring equipment and provide other diabetes care.”
- legis.state.pa.us: “School employes who are not licensed health care practitioners shall only be authorized to administer diabetes medications via injection or infusion following annual education by a licensed health care practitioner with expertise in the care and treatment of diabetes”
- legis.state.pa.us: “"Diabetes medication" means glucagon and insulin.”
- legis.state.pa.us: “A school entity shall require the parent or guardian of a student with diabetes who requests that the student possess and self-administer diabetes medication and operate monitoring equipment in a school setting to provide the following:”
- legis.state.pa.us: “A written acknowledgment by the school nurse that the student has demonstrated that the student is capable of self-administration of the medication and use of the monitoring equipment.”
- pa.gov: “These educational modules and other information are included in the Diabetes in School Children: A Recommendation & Resource Guide for School Personnel , first released by DOH and PDE on November 22, 2016.”
- pa.gov (PDF): “The student's personal diabetes health care team should complete and approve the DMMP before the student returns to school, immediately after diagnosis, or when a student transfers to a new school.”
- pa.gov (PDF): “This includes enabling students to: check blood glucose; use smartphones and other monitoring technology; administer insulin and other medications;”
- pa.gov (PDF): “The school nurse, licensed supplemental health staff, trained diabetes personnel, the student's health care providers as well as the parents/guardians can have access to the CGM data and alarms in real time at locations remote from the student.”
- pa.gov: “Act 86 is a voluntary option (not mandated) for schools.”
- legis.state.pa.us: “A nonpublic school may comply with the education of school employes and provision of diabetes-related care to a student with diabetes required under sections 1414.3, 1414.4 and 1414.5.”
- legis.state.pa.us: “A student's service agreement may require a school entity to provide the driver of a school bus or school vehicle, who provides transportation to a student with diabetes, with an information sheet that:”
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).