Schools for Sick Children

Sick kids in school? It’s happening in the state of Colorado. Teaming with a Denver hospital, the state of Colorado has developed a radical, innovative approach to helping children with chronic illnesses stay in school. This program is designed for students with frequent health problems, such as asthma or diabetes, who may require medical attention during the school day.

This program, called Kunsberg School, educates children enrolled in Kindergarten through eighth grade. Students are referred by a physician. National Jewish Hospital and the state of Colorado co-finance the endeavor. No tuition is required. The school, located at National Jewish, is offered to children of any race, religious, or economic background.

Kunsberg School uses the same curriculum as state schools. They also provide extracurricular activities such as athletic and artistic experiences. Their goal is threefold: To help students achieve optimal health and attend school when possible; to teach students self-care strategies that minimize the effects of their illnesses on daily life; and to return the children to public school when the student is able.

Teachers working for the school possess a Master’s Degree in Education and certification in their area of expertise. They teach small classes containing no more than 15 students. In addition, they are trained to assist children to learn to cope with their illnesses and to recognize the onset of acute medical problems in their students.

This school was founded in a country where many school nurses are not adequately trained to help diabetic students in public schools. Kunsberg School offers academic experts a very real vision of a method that decreases sick days for chronically ill children. It also provides a good example of how adequate healthcare training offers crucial educational opportunities to vulnerable children.