School Tools
Introduction
This page provides information and tools to help families partner with their children's health care providers and schools or child care centers in order to support optimal health, developmental and educational outcomes for children with special health care needs.
Schools and early education/ childcare centers play a particularly large role in the lives of children. Children and youth with special health care needs and their families benefit when their medical home doctor and teachers and other school personnel work together to identify and meet the needs of the students and families.
- Families need to know how to work collaboratively with teachers and school administrators, as well as understand the laws and procedures that ensure their children receive the appropriate accommodations in order to learn.
- Educators can adapt their teaching methods or bring in additional services through the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or IFSP process if they understand the health and developmental needs of an individual child and the educational implications.
- Physicians and other health care providers can share important information with families and schools about how the particular diagnosis or medical needs of a child is likely to impact their learning and behavior. They also serve an important role in identifying health and developmental problems, linking families to services, counseling families, and advocating for the child.
On This Page
Getting Started
How Your Child's Medical Home Doctor Can Help
Washington State Resources
Washington State School Health Policies
Additional National Resources
Getting Started
Basic Reading
The National Resource Center on AD/HD, Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD), and the National Alliance for Hispanic Health (the Alliance) has a 52-page Spanish/English booklet that guides parents through the process of identifying the disorder for their children, and understanding federal laws that assure specialized education and related services for eligible children with AD/HD.
- English: "Educational Rights for Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD): A Primer for Parents"
-To order a free copy, call: 1-800-233-4050
- Spanish: "Derechos educacionales de los niños con el Trastorno por el Déficit de Atención e Hiperactividad (TDA/H): Una Cartilla Para Padres"
-Para obtener copias gratuita, comuníquese con: 1-866-783-2645
www.hispanichealth.org
The
National Dissemination
Center for Children
with Disabilities (NICHCY) has a number of excellent materials written in easy-to-understand terms that look at aspects of the special education process and provide parents with information they need. Most materials are available in English and Spanish.
Basics for Parents: Your Child's Evaluation (English and Spanish). This publication describes the steps the school system will take to evaluate your child to determine if he or she has a disability and is eligible for special education.
www.nichcy.org/InformationResources/Documents/NICHCY%20PUBS/bp1.pdf 
Resources for Families and Communities
www.nichcy.org/FamiliesAndCommunity/Pages/Default.aspx
NICHCY Connection to US Education Laws
Links to information and assistance on our nation's education laws affecting children with disabilities -- IDEA, No Child Left Behind, ADA, and Section 504.
www.nichcy.org/Laws/Pages/Default.aspx
The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools has a brief summary on "Health Care for Children with Disabilities or Enrolled in Special Education Programs" that provides an overview of the different laws affecting these children.
www.healthinschools.org/Health-in-Schools/Health-Services/Special-Education-Related-Services.aspx
Washington State Parent Training and Information Center (PTI)
Every state has a PTI and/or Community Parent Resource Center (CPRC) that can provide information about disabilities, the educational rights of your child, or strategies for being an effective advocate for your child as well as state and local resources. Washington State PTI and CPRC Centers:
PAVE-Parents Are Vital in Education (State Parent Training and Information Center)
Tacoma
(253) 565-2266 (V/TTY); (800) 572-7368 (V/TTY)
www.washingtonpave.org
Parent to Parent Power (Community Parent Resource Center)
(Serving Pierce, North King County and vicinity)
Yvone Link, Program Director
Parent to Parent Power
Tacoma
(253) 531-2022; (253) 531-0246
http://p2ppower.org
Rural Outreach (Community Parent Resource Center)
Pullman
509-595-5440
E-mail: routreach@adelphia.net
For more information about what state Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers do and how they help parents, see the NICHCY publication Parent Training and Information Centers.
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How Your Child's Medical Home Doctor Can Help
Your child's medical home doctor can work with you and your child's school to meet the health and educational needs of your child. The American Academy of Pediatrics has published a number of articles in the journal Pediatrics that outline for pediatricians what their role is in helping families whose children need special education or special health-related services at schools. These roles are also relevant for family physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. (The full list of AAP Council on Children with Disabilities
Policy Statements, Practice Parameters, Clinical Reports, and Technical Reports can be found at: www.medicalhomeinfo.org/about/CSOCWDreports.html )
The most helpful article for most parents to understand the role of the medical home doctor is:
Pediatrician's Role in Development and Implementation of an Individual Education Plan (IEP) and/or an Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP)
Published: PEDIATRICS, July 1999, Reaffirmed November 2002, Reaffirmed October 2005
Additional articles:
Provision of Educationally-Related Services for Children and Adolescents With Chronic Diseases and Disabling Conditions. Published: PEDIATRICS, February 2000 (Under Revision)
Care Coordination in the Medical Home: Integrating Health and Related Systems of Care for Children With Special Health Care Needs.
Published: PEDIATRICS, November 2005
Role of the Pediatrician in Transitioning Children and Adolescents With Developmental Disabilities and Chronic Illnesses From School to Work or College.
Published: PEDIATRICS, October 2000, Reaffirmed January 2004
The Role of the Pediatrician in Implementing the Americans With Disabilities Act.
Published: PEDIATRICS, July 1996, Reaffirmed October 2000, Reaffirmed January 2004
Prescribing Therapy Services for Children with Motor Disabilities
Published: PEDIATRICS, June 2004. Linda J. Michaud, MD and the Committee on Children with Disabilities
Other School Health Resources
Plan Ahead For Your Child's Medicine at School
From the PACER Center Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights
www.pacer.org/health/planAhead.asp
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Washington State Resources
Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)
www.k12.wa.us/
Washington State Infant Toddler Early Intervention Program (ESIT)
For children aged birth to 36 months.
http://del.wa.gov/development/esit/Default.aspx
Washington Parents are Vital in Education (PAVE)
Provides parents with advocacy, training, and information on their children's educational rights
www.washingtonpave.org/links/walinks.asp
Starting Point Resource Guide (WA) Search for “Schools” under Resource Category
http://cshcn.org/sites/default/files/webfm/file/
StartingPointGuide.pdf
The Center for Change in Transition Services, Seattle University
Web site provides special education teachers, directors, students and their families with resources, information and news regarding secondary special education and transition services.
www.seattleu.edu/ccts/index.asp
Washington State Resources from NICHY
www.nichcy.org/Pages/StateSpecificInfo.aspx?State=WA
Sound Options Mediation and Training Group
Provides FREE mediation and training for Washington State parents and school districts on special education issues. Includes resources about disagreements related to identification, evaluation and educational placement of students. Focus is on mutually beneficial problem-conflict resolution as an alternative to adversarial-due process proceedings. No cost. 1-800-692-2540.
See also Schools/Special Education Resource Pages on this Washington Medical Home website
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Washington State School Health Policies
The National Association of the State Boards of Education (NASBE) lists school health policies for each state related to Curriculum and Instruction, School Staff, Student Services, Accommodations, Environment, Coordination/ Implementation.
www.nasbe.org/healthy_schools/hs/index.php
Particular areas of interest to medical homes on the NASBE website include:
Screening for Health Conditions
RCW 28A.210.020 (1971) requires all school boards to provide vision and hearing screening for their students.
Administration of Medications
RCW 28A.210.260 (2000) instructs the board of directors of a school district to adopt policies addressing the designation of an employee to administer oral medications to students, written request from a parent or guardian, written request from the licensed health professional prescribing the medication, identification of the medication to be administered, safekeeping of the medication, and record keeping of the administration of medication.
RCW 28A.210.270 (2000) states that the school and its employees are not liable for any criminal action or civil damages from performing the function of administering medication. The code also states that the school, district, and its employees may discontinue the administration of oral medication provided that prior oral or written notification has been given to the parent or guardian.
SB 5841 (2005) requires all districts to adopt policies regarding asthma rescues procedures and authorizing elementary and secondary students with asthma or anaphylaxis to self-administer medication if prescribed by a health care provider to use during the school day, if the health care provider provides a written treatment plan, if the student has demonstrated his/her ability to property self-administer the medication, and if the parent provides written authorization for the student to possess and self-administer medication.
Psychotropic Medications: No state policy.
Storage and Record-keeping: No state policy.
Individual Health Plan for Students:
- WAC 392-172-160 (2001) requires a student’s individualized education program (IEP) to include a statement on related services or support that will be provided to a student by school personnel.
- WAC 392-172-124 (2000) includes students with chronic or acute health problems in the definition of health impairments eligible for services.
- WAC 392-172-212 (1995) requires the superintendent of public instruction and districts to comply with the federal health and safety requirements stated in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
Confidentiality:
Student Health-Related Records: Washington does not have a policy regarding the confidentiality of school health records that goes beyond the federal FERPA requirements. RCW 70.02 (1994), however, does cover general patient health care information access and disclosure by health care providers.
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Additional National Resources
Wright's Law Website
Special education law and advocacy for children with disabilities for parents, advocates, educators, and attorneys. The website has lots of practical tips about working collaboratively with your child's teachers and school administrators and what to do when things don't go well. Includes information on IDEA 2004, No Child Left Behind, as well as who can help you identify your child's educational needs and help your child achieve his or her educational goals. You can also sign up to receive their free weekly Special Education Advocate e-newsletter.
www.wrightslaw.com
Utah's Special Education Guide for Parents
www.medicalhomeportal.org/living-with-child/education-and-schools
The National Center of Medical Home Initiatives for Children with Special Needs
Education-related pages for families, physicians, and educators with children with special needs
www.medicalhomeinfo.org/health/education.html
Pacer Center- Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights
Parent Leadership articles, including a very practical Parent Keys to Success in the Parent-School Partnership.
www.pacer.org/parent/leadership.htm
See also Schools/Special Education Resource Pages on this Washington Medical Home website
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