Prince William County Public Schools

Prince William County Public Schools is committed to ensuring the diabetes management needs of our students are met so they are healthy, safe, and ready to learn to create a thriving future. 

• PWCS safeguards the health of students with diabetes by following all Virginia requirements and by adhering closely to their specific physician directives contained in the Diabetes Medical Management Plan (DMMP) submitted for each student at the start of every school year.
• Nurses and other diabetes trained personnel can only administer insulin and glucagon, and utilize equipment to the extent allowed by the student's doctor in their DMMP. They seek to meet family expectations, but cannot exceed doctors' orders and legal requirements.
• We develop an Individual Health Care Plan based on the DMMP to address the individual needs of the student, and share appropriate information with employees, including teachers, cafeteria staff, and bus drivers, as needed to keep children healthy and to deal with emergencies.
• We work with families and physicians to determine if it is appropriate for students to safely self-carry diabetes supplies and self-administer diabetes care, with nursing oversight, if needed. We provide education and guidance on self-care tasks.
• PWCS exceeds Virginia Code by requiring at least three staff members at each school are Insulin and Glucagon trained.
• PWCS works closely with parents and students to promote health and assist students with proper self-care, including glucose monitoring, administering insulin, calculating carbohydrates, and monitoring ketones, in accordance with the DMMP.
• We constantly review plans, procedures, staff performance, and compliance to make certain that all are serving the health and best interest of every student.

Secondary Device Pilot Program

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of a secondary device?

The secondary device provides an extra layer of support for children with diabetes or other medical conditions that necessitate the use of a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). The primary CGM that is worn by the child will emit an alarm and should be turned on and set to audible throughout the school day; however, a secondary device allows for audible alarms to be heard remotely by the school nurse and other trained staff even when the student is not within close proximity.

If my child has been diagnosed with diabetes and does not use a CGM, will we be able to utilize the secondary device?

No, your child must use a CGM that permits them to share their blood sugar data through applications (apps) installed on the secondary devices.

How can we gain access to the secondary device so that my child’s blood glucose data will be seen by the school?

A parent/guardian must provide an updated Diabetes Medical Management Plan (DMMP) or Health Treatment Plan (HTP) for the current school year and then make a request with their child’s school nurse. A parental agreement is then provided to the parent/guardian. Upon receipt of the signed parental agreement, the school nurse will provide the dedicated PWCS secondary device email address to the parent/guardian, so they can send the school nurse a CGM app invite.

Where will the secondary device be located?

The secondary device will be located in a central area within the front office or near the health clinic, but not in the classroom. An electrical outlet should be accessible.

Who will have access to the secondary device?

The school nurse and level 3 trained unlicensed assistive personnel (UAPs) will be responsible for accessing the secondary device whenever an audible alarm is heard. That staff member will then access the secondary device to check blood glucose values.

Will staff who are expected to respond to the audible alarms from the secondary device receive training?

Yes, the school nurse will train UAPs on how to operate the secondary device and use the CGM apps. The school nurse will also ensure that any staff member in the vicinity of the secondary device will also be educated on how to respond appropriately to all audible alarms emitted from the secondary device.

Who maintains the secondary devices?

The school nurse with support from IT, will maintain the secondary device as needed. Parents will be expected to maintain good condition of their child’s CGM so that application will be receiving data.

What happens if there is an internet outage?

Even with an internet outage, most CGMs will still display your blood glucose readings, as they typically store data locally and don't rely on internet connectivity for basic functionality. If your child’s CGM isn't working, the school nurse or trained UAPs can check their blood sugar using a fingerstick method with a blood glucose meter (BGM) and test strips.

Will the device be carried on a field trip or at a school-sponsored activity after hours?

No. The secondary device will remain on the school premises in its fixed location and only be used during school hours.

What happens during evacuation/fire drills?

The secondary device will remain in a fixed location in the school health clinic or a school designated central location but not in a classroom.