Superintendents Toolkit 2013

Certified School Nurse

Background:

Having Certified School Nurses (CSNs) make recommendations for a child’s special-education needs has been required by ISBE since 1976. In 2010, after some school superintendents complained how difficult it was to find CSNs, the agency allowed RNs and advanced practice nurses to make such recommendations. After the rule changed in 2010, a number of groups, including the Illinois Association for School Nurses (IASN), Illinois Education Association (IEA), Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), pushed the state board to revert back to the original language.

The rule mandating the use of CSNs was scheduled to be implemented July 1, 2013, but State Superintendent Dr. Chris Koch, after meeting with a group that included members of IASA’s Legislative Committee, said that implementing the rule would not be feasible by July 1. Dr. Koch also said he would work with the stakeholder groups to try and find a permanent solution.

Issue:

If ISBE succumbs to the pressure from the IASN and the unions and decides to go forward with the CSN mandate, it will cost schools more money than the current practice of using Registered Nurses (RNs). There also is a problem with finding CSNs in many parts of the state and currently there are only three colleges offering the necessary coursework. IASA is pushing for a compromise solution that might include specialized webinar and online training for RNs, but would not require certification or the hiring of the more expensive CSNs. Any new or amended rule would require the approval of the Joint Committee for Administrative Rules (JCAR) and would have to include a minimum of two 45-day comment periods. If or when a new or amended rule is posted, we will need to send letters to JCAR supporting our position on this issue. Meanwhile, State Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia (D-Aurora) has introduced House Bill 1373 that would require school districts to employ CSNs for special education students.

(Continued on page 14)