Education & Schools
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The details you provide for school personnel will help determine 1) your patient's eligibility for Special Education, and 2) the exact nature of the child's special needs in the school setting. Your information will also be used in developing his/her Individualized Education Program (IEP), which may include special dietary, personal care, and medical requirements during school hours. The three steps detailed on this page will enable you to facilitate communications between you and the school. You will also find information about common issues and questions primary care providers confront as they work with schools, educators, families, and kids. |
1. Initiate communication with the school.


2. Request an evaluation.

- specially designed instruction;
- dietary accommodations;
- personal care;
- medical procedures;
- transportation to/from school;
- psychological services;
- physical and/or occupational therapy services or consultation; and
- speech, vision and/or hearing therapy services or consultation.
3. Request special services.

Evaluation
Eligibility for Special Education Services (IDEA)
- Autism,
- Mental Retardation,
- Emotional Disturbance,
- Hearing Impairments/Deafness,
- Orthopedic Impairments,
- Other Health Impairments,
- Specific Learning Disabilities,
- Speech/Language Impairment,
- Traumatic Brain Injury,
- Visual Impairment (Including Blindness).
Eligibility for Section 504
Preschool Children
Individualized Education Program (IEP)
Developing the Health Plan
- If a health issue is identified during an evaluation, the school nurse or the case manager (usually the resource teacher) will request a release of information from the parent to obtain health information from the Medical Home or healthcare providers.
- The school nurse uses professional judgment to determine if a student requires an individual healthcare plan (IHP) and initiates the IHP to meet student's health needs and the impact on the educational process.
- The school nurse meets with the parent to take a health history and develop the health plan. The school nurse:
- Assesses the student to determine the needs and barriers related to student safety and well being;
- Collaborates with parents and healthcare providers;
- Coordinates care during school hours;
- Educates faculty and staff regarding student needs;
- Promotes communication among family, school, healthcare providers; and
- Supports the student.
- The IHP is sent to the parent and healthcare providers.
- The parent and healthcare provider signs off on the health plan.
- Ideally, the nurse will attend the IEP meeting to offer health information input. [Utah School Nurse Association] [School Health Care Plans - Fact Sheet (Utah Family Voices) (
48 KB)]
Dietary Accommodations at School
- the child's disability;
- an explanation of why the disability restricts the child's diet;
- the major life activity/activities affected by the disability;
- the food(s) to be omitted from the child's diet, and food or choice of foods that must be substituted.
Accommodating Children with Special Dietary Needs in the School Nutrition Programs (

Gives a useful guide for nutrition accommodations, including information about modifying school meals for students with disabilities and other dietary requirements such as food allergies. The site includes a sample Eating and Feeding Evaluation form to be completed by the child's parent and physician and a sample Information Card for use by school food service staff in preparing meals for the child. From the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service.
Medication at School


Resources
Information & Support
For Professionals
IDEA
Official U.S. Department of Education description of IDEA Part B (ages 3-21) and Part C (ages birth-3).
Medical Home to School Summary Form ( 40 KB)
Sample form for communication between health care providers and schools about health concerns that impact a student's education.
IDEA Regulations 34 CFR Parts 300 (Cornell)
Regulations regarding the Assistance to States for the Education of Children With Disabilities.
Student Placement and Section 504, US Dept. of Education
From the U.S. Department of Education, this website discusses placement of students in elementary and secondary schools in
relation to Section 504 and ADA.
National Council of State Boards of Nursing
The NCSBN Nurse Practice Act Toolkit, with access to each state's Nurse Practice Act and related information.
Nurse Practice Acts
Links to Nurse Practice Acts of states and territories.
IDEA Regulations: NIMAS access to instructional materials ( 45 KB)
A new and exciting addition to IDEA intended to greatly improve access to instructional materials for blind or other persons
with print disabilities—textbooks and workbooks, for example. (National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard NIMAS)
See also:http://idea.ed.gov/explore/view/p/,root,dynamic,TopicalBrief,12,.html
Accommodating Children with Special Dietary Needs in the School Nutrition Programs ( 849 KB)
Gives a useful guide for nutrition accommodations, including information about modifying school meals for students with disabilities
and other dietary requirements such as food allergies. The site includes a sample Eating and Feeding Evaluation form to be
completed by the child's parent and physician and a sample Information Card for use by school food service staff in preparing
meals for the child. From the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service.
School Bus Transportation of CSHCN (AAP)
Policy on transporting CYSHCN on school buses with information about restraining wheelchairs and other equipment, accompanying
aides, rescue medications, IEP considerations, emergency plans, and other background information.
For Parents and Patients
A parent's guide to Section 504 in public schools
An article addressing basic qustions pertaining to the implementation of Section 504 in public school systems. GreatKids for
special needs, with GreatSchools.org.
Schools Information Release Form ( 49 KB)
Sample form for schools that approves the exchange of information between the student’s nurse and school professionals as
it relates to the diagnosis/condition listed. Intended for use as a consent form to accompany the above Medical Home to School
Summary Form when providers request evaluations or services from the school.
Office for Civil Rights answers questions about Section 504
Answers to frequently asked questions about Section 504 and education of children with disabilities, from the U.S. Office
for Civil Rights.
Center for Parent Information and Resources (DOE)
Parent centers in every state provide training to parents of children with disabilities and provide information about special
education, transition to adulthood, health care, support groups, local conferences and other federal, state, and local services.
See the link for Download a List of Parent Centers across the USA to find the parent center in your state; Department of Education,
Office of Special Education.
National Center on Secondary Education and Transition
This easy-to-use website provides information about transition during high school and to opportunities after high school including
jobs, vocational education, and college. Provides links to contacts in each state for State Transition Contact, Regional Resource
Center Contact, State Director of Special Education, Part B Contact, and State Director or Vocational Rehabilitation.
State Education Contacts and Information
This page has contact information for state school resources in any state, including adult education, arts, child care, higher
education, humanities, libraries, PTA, special ed, tech-prep, vocational rehabilitation, vocational-technical, and other education
offices in each state.
IDEA-related Acronyms, Abbreviations, and Terms
From the U.S. Department of Education, alphabetically listed acronyms related to IDEA.
School Health Care Plans - Fact Sheet (Utah Family Voices) ( 48 KB)
Information, tips, and resources.
Authors
Compiler: | Information compiled by Medical Home Portal authors and staff |
Content Last Updated: | 1/2012 |
Page Bibliography
Janz J, Harrison J, Caldwell T.
Children with Special Health Needs in School: Developing an Individualized Educational Program (IEP) and an Individualized
Health Care Plan (IHCP).
Annual Convention of the Council for Exceptional Children, 71st, 1993; San Antonio, TX.
/ http://eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/custom/portlets/recordDetails/detailm...
Information about the IHCP and how it helps when there is a lack of necessary health information in school documents; includes
information about the role of the school nurse in the IEP and IHCP, case examples, and example forms.