What should my child’s teacher know if my child has a chronic illness?

Whether your child has asthma, diabetes, allergies, epilepsy, or another chronic illness, provide your child’s school with the information required for meeting his or her needs, including:

• Child’s name and birth date
• Child’s medical condition
• Child’s doctors’ names and contact information
• Emergency contact information of parents and another responsible adult, in case parents can’t be reached
• Any significant changes to your child’s health that could affect his or her performance at school
• A plan, worked out between parents and school staff, for accommodating your child in all capacities while at school
• A plan for completion of class projects and homework in the event of frequent or prolonged absence
• Written authorization to administer medication to your child at school, adequate supplies of medications, and their dosing schedule
• Written authorization for emergency medical treatment

From Good Kids, Bad Habits: The RealAge Guide to Raising Healthy Children by Jennifer Trachtenberg.