Type 1 diabetes at school in Texas
What Texas 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
Each school with a student with diabetes must seek school employees who are not health care professionals to serve as unlicensed diabetes care assistants, and their training includes giving insulin (Tex. Health & Safety Code §§ 168.004, 168.005). (tcss.legis.texas.gov)
Can trained school staff give glucagon?
Yes
The required training for unlicensed diabetes care assistants includes giving glucagon (Tex. Health & Safety Code § 168.005(d)). (tcss.legis.texas.gov)
Can a student carry supplies and manage diabetes at school?
Yes
In line with the student's individualized health plan, a school must let the student check blood glucose, give insulin, treat lows and highs, carry diabetes supplies at any time, and do diabetes care anywhere at school or school activities (Tex. Health & Safety Code § 168.008). (tcss.legis.texas.gov)
Does the state publish a diabetes care plan form or guidelines?
Yes
The Department of State Health Services publishes the Texas Diabetes Council guidelines for training unlicensed diabetes care assistants under HB 984. State law requires a diabetes management and treatment plan signed by the parent and physician (Tex. Health & Safety Code § 168.002); no state form was found. (dshs.texas.gov (PDF); tcss.legis.texas.gov)
Can a student keep a phone for the CGM in class?
Yes
School districts and open-enrollment charter schools must adopt a policy that prohibits student use of personal communication devices during the school day, and the policy must allow use needed for an IEP or Section 504 plan or by a student with a documented need based on a physician's directive (Tex. Educ. Code § 37.082). The law does not name diabetes or CGM. (tcss.legis.texas.gov)
Also in Texas
Texas HB 984 (2005) created Health & Safety Code Chapter 168. The principal must try to have at least one unlicensed diabetes care assistant at a school with a full-time nurse and at least three at a school without one. Staff who transport or supervise a student off campus get a one-page information sheet with emergency responses and a contact number. (tcss.legis.texas.gov)
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
- tcss.legis.texas.gov: “seek school employees who are not health care professionals to serve as unlicensed diabetes care assistants and care for students with diabetes”
- tcss.legis.texas.gov: “properly administering glucagon and insulin and recording the results of the administration”
- tcss.legis.texas.gov: “In accordance with the student's individualized health plan, a school shall permit the student to attend to the management and care of the student's diabetes, which may include: (1) performing blood glucose level checks; (2) administering insulin through the insulin delivery system the student uses; (3) treating hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia; (4) possessing on the student's person at any time any supplies or equipment necessary to monitor and care for the student's diabetes;”
- dshs.texas.gov (PDF): “Guidelines for Training School Employees who are not Licensed Healthcare Professionals to implement House Bill 984 (79th Legislative Session) related to the Care of Elementary and Secondary School Students with Diabetes”
- tcss.legis.texas.gov: “be signed by the student's parent or guardian and the physician responsible for the student's diabetes treatment.”
- tcss.legis.texas.gov: “In adopting the policy, the board of trustees of a school district or governing body of an open-enrollment charter school must authorize the use of a personal communication device: (1) necessary to implement an individualized education program, a plan created under Section 504, Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. Section 794), or a similar program or plan; (2) by a student with a documented need based on a directive from a qualified physician;”
- tcss.legis.texas.gov: “(A) at least one unlicensed diabetes care assistant if a full-time nurse is assigned to the school; and (B) at least three unlicensed diabetes care assistants if a full-time nurse is not assigned to the school.”
- tcss.legis.texas.gov: “Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1022 (H.B. 984 ), Sec. 1, eff. June 18, 2005.”
- tcss.legis.texas.gov: “A school district shall provide to each district employee who is responsible for providing transportation for a student with diabetes or supervising a student with diabetes during an off-campus activity a one-page information sheet”
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).