Teacher needs assessment for the educational management of children with chronic illnesses

Three hundred forty-one North Carolina public school teachers were surveyed to determine frequency of teacher contacts with children with chronic health conditions and teachers' needs related to educational management of these children. More than 76% of respondents had taught children with chronic health conditions sometime during their career; 38% reported they had academic coursework related to chronic health conditions, and only 7% indicated their certification requirements were adequate. Parents were identified as the most important source of information about a child's health condition, while in-school resources were reported to be less available and often less helpful. Teachers identified several critical issues in educational management of children with teacher knowledge and preparation about health conditions as the most important concern. Findings indicate a need for more teacher preparation and improved resources for teachers.