Type 1 diabetes at school in Wisconsin
What Wisconsin 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 | With limits |
| Glucagon by trained staff | Yes |
| Self-carry | No source found |
| State plan or guidelines | Yes |
| Phone for the CGM | Yes |
Can trained school staff give insulin?
With limits
School employees and volunteers authorized in writing may give prescription drugs with written practitioner instructions and parent consent; the statute does not name insulin (Wis. Stat. § 118.29(2)(a)2). Injected drugs need training approved by the Department of Public Instruction, and only a health care professional can be required to give a drug by a means other than ingestion (Wis. Stat. § 118.29(5), (6)). (docs.legis.wisconsin.gov)
The American Diabetes Association’s Wisconsin page reads this differently: ADA answers yes; it does not mention that staff cannot be required to give injections.
Can trained school staff give glucagon?
Yes
Authorized school employees, volunteers and bus operators may give glucagon to a pupil known to have diabetes who has a severe low with altered consciousness, and must call 911 (Wis. Stat. § 118.29(2)(a)2r). Training approved by the Department of Public Instruction is required for injected drugs (Wis. Stat. § 118.29(6)). (docs.legis.wisconsin.gov)
Can a student carry supplies and manage diabetes at school?
No source found
No Wisconsin statute addresses students carrying diabetes supplies or self-managing diabetes; the statutes cover inhalers and epinephrine only. The Department of Public Instruction school nurse handbook leaves self-carrying of medication to district policy. We found no statute or state agency page that answers this for Wisconsin. Ask the school nurse or the state Department of Education, and see the American Diabetes Association’s Wisconsin page.
The American Diabetes Association’s Wisconsin page reads this differently: ADA says self-management is unclear but answers yes for carrying supplies, based on a Department of Health Services sample 504 plan that is no longer at the linked address.
Does the state publish a diabetes care plan form or guidelines?
Yes
The Department of Public Instruction publishes a diabetes page for school nurses with a sample type 1 diabetes Individualized Health Care Plan and a link to the ADA Diabetes Medical Management Plan. (dpi.wi.gov)
Can a student keep a phone for the CGM in class?
Yes
Each school board must adopt by July 1, 2026 a policy that bans pupil use of wireless devices during instructional time, with a required exception to manage the pupil's health care (Wis. Stat. § 120.12(29)). The Department of Public Instruction diabetes page also links CGM guidance for schools. (docs.legis.wisconsin.gov; dpi.wi.gov)
The American Diabetes Association’s Wisconsin page reads this differently: ADA says Wisconsin has no statewide cellphone restriction; 2025 Wis. Act 42 created Wis. Stat. § 120.12(29) with a health care exception.
Also in Wisconsin
Wisconsin lets a school keep undesignated (stock) glucagon (Wis. Stat. § 118.294). The cell phone policy requirement comes from 2025 Wis. Act 42. (docs.legis.wisconsin.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
- docs.legis.wisconsin.gov: “May administer a prescription drug to a pupil in compliance with the written instructions of a practitioner if the pupil's parent or guardian consents in writing”
- docs.legis.wisconsin.gov: “No employee except a health care professional may be required to administer a nonprescription drug product or prescription drug to a pupil under this section by any means other than ingestion.”
- docs.legis.wisconsin.gov: “no school bus driver, employee, or volunteer may administer any of the following nonprescription drug products or prescription drugs unless he or she has received training, approved by the department, in administering these nonprescription drug products and prescription drugs”
- docs.legis.wisconsin.gov: “may administer glucagon to any pupil who the school bus driver, employee, or volunteer knows is diabetic and who appears to be experiencing a severe low blood sugar event with altered consciousness”
- dpi.wi.gov (PDF): “School medication policies may also address self-administration or self-carrying of medications by students, stocking of medications, how medications are brought to school or sent home”
- dpi.wi.gov: “Sample Diabetes TD1 Individualized Health Care Plan (IHP)”
- dpi.wi.gov: “Schools must be prepared to prevent, recognize, and react to emergency medical situations involving students with type 1 diabetes.”
- docs.legis.wisconsin.gov: “Exceptions to the prohibition required under par. (a) for all of the following: 120.12(29)(b)2.a. a. In the event of an emergency or a perceived threat. 120.12(29)(b)2.b. b. To manage the pupil's health care.”
- dpi.wi.gov: “Guidance for the Use of Continuous Glucose Monitoring in the School Setting (May 2025)”
- docs.legis.wisconsin.gov: “The governing body of a school may obtain a prescription for undesignated glucagon under sub. (2) and maintain a supply of undesignated glucagon in any secure location that is immediately accessible to school personnel.”
- docs.legis.wisconsin.gov: “2025 a. 42 ss. 1e , 2”
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).