D.C. public schools officials will ensure that two staff members at every school with diabetic students are trained to give insulin shots and other medical treatment, according to an agreement signed last week with the U.S. Department of Education.
The staff members must be trained by Oct. 19. Officials also said they would not require or request that students transfer schools because of a need for diabetes care. The school system agreed to establish a grievance process for diabetic students who think their rights have been violated.
The agreement, signed Aug. 22, resolves a civil rights complaint brought in July by University Legal Services, a legal aid organization in the District, and the American Diabetes Association.
The complaint alleged that a D.C. third-grader was forced to miss days of classes last year when the school nurse was absent and other staff members couldn’t provide adequate treatment for her diabetes.
The federal government is investigating similar complaints about inadequate diabetes care at the city’s charters schools, said Victoria Thomas, a staff lawyer with University Legal Services.
On Friday, the city adopted emergency regulations that allow trained staff members at traditional public and public charter schools to administer emergency medication to students with diabetes.
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