Diabetes at school, by state

Type 1 diabetes at school in Washington

What Washington 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?

With limits

Only a parent-designated adult (PDA), a trained volunteer chosen by the parents who may be a school employee, may give insulin (RCW 28A.210.330). OSPI guidance says school nurses may not delegate insulin injections to unlicensed staff. (app.leg.wa.gov; ospi.k12.wa.us (PDF))

Can trained school staff give glucagon?

With limits

A school nurse may delegate intranasal glucagon to trained unlicensed staff, but injectable glucagon may be given only by a nurse, a parent-designated adult, or a parent or family member (OSPI Guidelines for Care of Students with Diabetes, under RCW 28A.210.330). (ospi.k12.wa.us (PDF))

The American Diabetes Association’s Washington page reads this differently: ADA answers yes through parent-designated adults and does not mention that only intranasal glucagon may be delegated to other staff.

Can a student carry supplies and manage diabetes at school?

Yes

District policies must give students the option to carry diabetes supplies and to check glucose and treat anywhere on school grounds, in class, and at school-sponsored events (RCW 28A.210.330(1)(a)(iv)). (app.leg.wa.gov)

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

Yes

The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) publishes Guidelines for Care of Students with Diabetes (2023), which link the plan and emergency forms. (ospi.k12.wa.us (PDF))

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

Yes

OSPI guidelines say the Section 504 Plan should address carrying smartphones, watches, or CGM devices, and that staff should not use personal phones to follow a student's CGM readings. No state statute on phones was found. (ospi.k12.wa.us (PDF))

Also in Washington

RCW 28A.210.330 was enacted in 2002 (2002 c 350). A school employee may refuse to be a parent-designated adult without reprisal. (app.leg.wa.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

• app.leg.wa.gov: “For the purposes of this section, "parent-designated adult" means a volunteer, who may be a school district employee, who receives additional training from a health care professional or expert in diabetic care selected by the parents, and who provides care for the child consistent with the individual health plan.”
• ospi.k12.wa.us (PDF): “As a part of an IHP or Section 504 Plan, parents may choose to designate an unrelated adult, or PDA, to provide care such as blood glucose monitoring and/or insulin or glucagon administration that would otherwise be performed by a health professional licensed under RCW 18.79.”
• ospi.k12.wa.us (PDF): “Registered Nurses (RNs) and Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners (ARNPs) may not delegate procedures such as blood glucose monitoring and insulin injections to unlicensed staff.”
• ospi.k12.wa.us (PDF): “Intranasal glucagon may be administered by licensed staff RN, LPN, PDA, any staff member that has received training and delegation by the school nurse, or if the parent/guardian chooses, a parent or family member.”
• ospi.k12.wa.us (PDF): “The administration of injectable Glucagon cannot be delegated by the school registered nurse to unlicensed school staff even with an auto-injector.”
• app.leg.wa.gov: “The policies shall include the option for students to carry on their persons the necessary supplies and equipment and the option to perform monitoring and treatment functions anywhere on school grounds including the students' classrooms, and at school-sponsored events;”
• ospi.k12.wa.us (PDF): “GUIDELINES FOR CARE OF STUDENTS WITH DIABETES 2023 Anna Marie Dufault Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education and Student Support”
• ospi.k12.wa.us (PDF): “Accommodations for carrying smartphones/watches or CGM devices should be addressed in the Section 504 Plan.”
• ospi.k12.wa.us (PDF): “School staff personal cell phones should not be used to monitor a student's CGM readings as they are not FERPA compliant.”
• app.leg.wa.gov: “If a school employee who is not licensed under chapter 18.79 RCW chooses not to file a letter under this section, the employee shall not be subject to any employer reprisal or disciplinary action for refusing to file a letter.”
• app.leg.wa.gov: “Effective date - 2002 c 350: "This act takes effect July 1, 2002."”

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).