When children with asthma attend school, their safety and management of asthma becomes a shared responsibility of the family, their asthma care provider, and the school personnel. Although all 50 states and the District of Columbia have passed a law allowing students to carry and use inhalers at school, some kids are still being denied access to these lifesaving medications during the school day.
Seventeen states have laws or state administrative guidelines allowing schools to stock quick-relief medications for students with asthma. Once the law or guidelines are in place, it is important to create policies to bring the law to life at the local or individual school level. Even without a state law, school districts can put a protective policy in place providing immediate access to asthma medication in schools. We encourage all school districts to implement a model policy to provide students with asthma access to quick-relief medicines during the school day. Having such a model policy can save the lives of children with asthma.
Use the resources and tools below to help schools overcome the barriers and make asthma medications available to students throughout the school day.
Page last updated: April 18, 2024
