D.C. Auditor Flags Incomplete Emergency Medical Plans for Public Schools

A critical report from the D.C. Auditor's office has revealed that many District public and charter schools weren't fully ready to handle student medical emergencies last year, despite a law requiring them to do so. The findings point fingers at the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) for what the auditor calls a lack of compliance with vital safety measures for D.C.'s kids. The audit, which looked into OSSE's adherence to the 2023 Access to Emergency Medications Amendment Act, found that while nearly all schools submitted required action plans for the 2025-2026 school year, a significant number of these plans were either incomplete or hadn't received official approval. This means that for common emergencies like severe allergic reactions, asthma attacks, or sudden low blood sugar, many schools might not have had the proper protocols or trained staff in place when it mattered most.

A Mandate for Safety

The Access to Emergency Medications Amendment Act of 2023 was designed to bolster student safety across the District. It mandates that all D.C. public schools, including public charter schools, must stock emergency medications for common conditions such as severe allergies (epinephrine), asthma (albuterol), and low blood sugar (glucagon). Crucially, the law also requires that designated school staff members are properly trained and certified to administer these medications safely when a student needs urgent help. D.C. Auditor Kathy Patterson emphasized the importance of these protections.

"For the sake of our kids and their protection, and for the sake of the comfort of parents, we really do need to make sure that all these things are in place," — D.C. Auditor Kathy Patterson (WTOP)

The audit specifically focused on OSSE's role in ensuring these requirements were met, interpreting the law as placing the primary responsibility for compliance squarely on the state superintendent's office. "We read the law as saying very clearly that OSSE, the Office of the State Superintendent, is responsible for compliance, and compliance means that the people are trained and ready to administer the medication," Patterson explained, noting that D.C. Health has a distinct role in conducting the necessary training and certification.

Audit Uncovers Gaps

The numbers laid out in the auditor's report paint a clear picture of the compliance challenges. As of April of last year, out of 246 D.C. public and public charter schools, 245 had submitted emergency medication action plans for review. However, OSSE had only managed to approve 113 of these plans. A substantial 120 plans were categorized as "approval pending administration of medication training and certification," indicating that while the paperwork might be in, the critical step of staff preparedness was still outstanding. Another 12 plans were sent back to schools for revisions, delaying their approval further. The report also highlighted that one campus, Washington Latin PCS-The Anna Julia Cooper Campus High School, had not submitted any plan at all [1].

Shared Responsibility or Conflicting Views?

The audit's findings have sparked a disagreement over who bears ultimate responsibility for ensuring schools are fully prepared. D.C. State Superintendent of Education Antoinette Mitchell pushed back on the auditor's interpretation, asserting that emergency medication readiness is a "shared responsibility."

"Emergency medication readiness is a shared responsibility across OSSE, D.C. Health, and D.C. schools, and the Auditor’s report reflects a point‑in‑time snapshot of a multi‑step process." — D.C. State Superintendent of Education Antoinette Mitchell (WTOP)

Mitchell's statement from OSSE pointed to D.C. Health's role in developing medication and training plans, as well as the need for individual school campuses to identify staff members capable of administering these life-saving medicines. OSSE also noted that many of the plans identified as incomplete in the report have since been approved, with schools now in the final phase of completing D.C. Health's required training and certification for their designated staff. Furthermore, OSSE reported that during the last school year, D.C. Health certified 769 individuals, significantly boosting schools' capacity to administer emergency medications safely.

What This Means for D.C. Parents

This bureaucratic back-and-forth over responsibility is "a little bit scary," according to Auditor Patterson, especially for parents. The lack of a unified front on who is ultimately accountable could leave parents feeling uncertain about their children's safety in D.C. schools. For D.C. families, this report underscores the importance of proactive engagement with their local schools. Parents of students with medical conditions, or those concerned about general emergency preparedness, might want to reach out directly to their school leadership to confirm their specific campus's compliance status and ensure trained staff are available. The safety of students in critical moments depends on these plans being not just submitted, but fully implemented and approved. Moving forward, D.C. residents should watch for further updates from both the D.C. Auditor's office and OSSE regarding these compliance issues. Clarification on inter-agency responsibilities and clear communication to parents about school readiness will be crucial for building confidence in the District's public education system.

Related Stories