Diabetes at school, by state

Type 1 diabetes at school in West Virginia

What West Virginia 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

The school nurse decides whether giving a prescribed medication may be safely delegated to trained designated qualified personnel (W. Va. Code R. § 126-27-6, Policy 2422.8), and may delegate health care procedures to trained school employees (W. Va. Code § 18-5-22(d)). Neither names insulin. (dhhr.wv.gov (PDF); code.wvlegislature.gov)

The American Diabetes Association’s West Virginia page reads this differently: ADA answers yes; the rule leaves the delegation decision to the school nurse and does not name insulin.

Can trained school staff give glucagon?

With limits

School nurses may decide to delegate glucagon to trained, supervised school personnel when a diagnosis and order are in place and no school nurse or LPN is available (W. Va. Code R. § 126-27-10, Policy 2422.8). (dhhr.wv.gov (PDF))

The American Diabetes Association’s West Virginia page reads this differently: ADA answers yes; the rule allows it only when no school nurse or LPN is available and the nurse decides.

Can a student carry supplies and manage diabetes at school?

Yes

A student may carry and self-administer prescribed emergency or acute medications, including insulin, when the prescription says the student may keep the medication (W. Va. Code R. § 126-27-6, Policy 2422.8). (dhhr.wv.gov (PDF))

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

Yes

The State Board of Education must adopt and publish guidelines for individual diabetes care plans, which school nurses develop for each student with diabetes (W. Va. Code § 18-2K-2). No published guideline document was located for this entry. (code.wvlegislature.gov)

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

Yes

County board cell phone policies must exempt students with a documented need required by a doctor or licensed health care professional, or by an IEP, 504 plan, or medical order (W. Va. Code § 18-2-47). It does not mention CGMs. (code.wvlegislature.gov)

Also in West Virginia

W. Va. Code § 18-2K-2 requires state guidelines for individual diabetes care plans. The cell phone limit came from HB 2003 (2025); the medication rule cited here is the 2014 text of 126CSR27 as posted by the Department of Health and Human Resources. (code.wvlegislature.gov; wvlegislature.gov (PDF); dhhr.wv.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

• dhhr.wv.gov (PDF): “Determine if the administration of prescribed medication may be safely delegated to designated qualified personnel, as defined in Section 4.5.”
• code.wvlegislature.gov: “a school nurse, in collaboration with the student's physician, parents and, in some instances, an individualized education program team, may delegate certain health care procedures to a school employee who shall be trained pursuant to this section, considered competent, have consultation with, and be monitored or supervised by the school nurse”
• dhhr.wv.gov (PDF): “The following medications have been approved for school nurses to decide the ability to delegate, train and continuously supervise school personnel to administer when a diagnosis and order are in place and the school nurse or licensed practical nurse is not available to provide such care: 10.1.a. Glucagon;”
• dhhr.wv.gov (PDF): “Self-administer prescribed emergency or acute medications, such as but not limited to epinephrine, insulin, asthma inhaler or ibuprofen when the prescription indicates that said student may maintain possession of the medication. The student must be able to bring the medication to school, carry the medication in a safe and responsible manner, and use the medication only as prescribed.”
• code.wvlegislature.gov: “Procedures for school nurses to develop an individual diabetes care plan for any student diagnosed with diabetes, which shall involve the parent or guardian, the student's health care provider, the student's classroom teacher, the student if appropriate, and other appropriate school personnel”
• code.wvlegislature.gov: “The State Board of Education shall provide that the guidelines and any subsequent changes are published and disseminated to county boards of education.”
• code.wvlegislature.gov: “Students with an approved documented need, as required by a medical doctor or licensed healthcare professional or as a requirement of an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 plan, the student's health care provider's medical orders, or other written accommodation plan, may have access to personal electronic devices if the device relates to the student's specific need.”
• code.wvlegislature.gov: “Adoption of guidelines for individual diabetes care plans.”
• wvlegislature.gov (PDF): “relating to the limitation of cell phones in classrooms”
• dhhr.wv.gov (PDF): “Effective Date. - January 13, 2014.”

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).