Parents and clinicians urge clearer rules for diabetes care in schools, including in‑class support

Families and clinicians urged the Joint Committee on Education to pass bills that would set clearer standards for managing Type‑1 diabetes in schools, ensuring consistent access to care and accommodations so students do not lose learning time.

Speakers described stark variation between districts: one parent said her child’s care was limited to the morning because staff were only available then; another said a student’s parent was excluded from developing a 504 plan; and a child with diabetes described being required to walk across campus during a low blood‑sugar episode. “We’re letting school staffing shortages, not students’ needs, drive decisions,” said a presenter supporting House Bills 652 and Senate Bill 342.

Why it matters: Testimony noted about 1,500 Massachusetts children aged 5–14 with Type‑1 diabetes; advocates said inconsistent practices place some students at risk for hypoglycemia and preventable classroom time loss.

Proposed measures: Witnesses asked for statutory guidance enabling classroom‑level accommodations (snacks, in‑class support staff trained to communicate with nurses), protections for insulin administration (nurses to handle injections), and alignment with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act so schools provide reasonable accommodations consistently.

Next steps: The committee closed hearings on a group of related bills; families and clinicians asked for a favorable report and for the legislature to adopt language that preserves nurse control over injections while enabling classroom supports so students can stay in class safely.