December 17, 2002 |
2002-R-1009 | |
BLOOD SUGAR TESTING: FOLLOW-UP SURVEY | ||
By: John Kasprak, Senior Attorney | ||
You asked for information on the testing of blood sugar (glucose) levels by students with diabetes in school settings. This report is a follow-up to OLR Report 2002-R-0979 (December 9, 2002) and provides a survey of school districts on the self-testing issue.
SURVEY OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS ON SELF-TESTING FOR GLUCOSE BY STUDENTS
The Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE) is in the process of surveying school districts around the state on whether they allow students to self-test for glucose. Of 27 respondents to the survey thus for, 24 school districts allow for self-testing, one intends to allow it once a protocol is developed, one allows for it but in practice self-testing is not occurring in the district, and one district does not allow it. Table 1 provides more detail on the survey responses.
TABLE 1- SELF TESTING FOR GLUCOSE IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS
Town/School District |
Self-Testing for Glucose Yes NO |
Comments/Details | |
Ashford |
√ |
One child, allowed in school nurse's offices under her supervision | |
Barkhamsted |
√ |
||
Bethel |
see comment |
Intends to allow self-testing. Currently, working out a protocol through director of pupil service and district's medical advisor. | |
Branford |
√ |
Branford High School and Walsh Intermediate School allow, following a demonstration of the student's capability to self-test, with nurse and parent present. | |
Bristol |
√ |
Follows protocol of Bristol-Burlington Health District | |
Capitol Region Educational Council (Hartford) |
√ |
||
Clinton |
√ |
||
Colebrook |
√ |
With physician's permission | |
Eastford |
√ |
||
East Haddam |
√ |
||
Granby |
√ |
||
Lisbon |
√ |
In the school nurse's office. | |
Montville |
√ |
In the school nurse's office, but not in classroom. | |
New Canaan |
√ |
||
Newington |
√ |
||
North Stonington |
√ |
Policy allows for self-testing with a physician's order, but at this time, all testing is done by nursing staff. Policy allows for school to contact the physician to question an order if it feels self-administration would not be prudent. | |
Norwalk |
√ |
Student must provide appropriate documentation. | |
Old Saybrook |
√ |
With physician's, parents' and RN's authorization. Evaluation of student's individual capability and understanding of their own symptoms. | |
Regional District # 19 |
√ |
||
Ridgefield |
√ |
||
Sterling |
√ |
||
Vernon |
√ |
||
Westport |
√ |
Uses the Section 504 process to develop an appropriate accommodation plan for students with chronic health conditions, including diabetes. Decisions about self-testing for blood glucose levels and where testing can be done are based on several factors, including student age, developmental levels, and competency in self-care skills; student and parent preferences; stability and acuity of the student's clinical status; physician recommendation; the student's treatment/self-care experience and compliance record in school; and other relevant student, school, and family factors. | |
Windham |
√ |
||
Wolcott |
√ |
||
Woodstock Public Schools |
√ |
||
Woodstock Academy |
√ |
||
Source: Connecticut Association of Boards of Education Survey
JK: eh