New Act Authorizes $34.5M for Seizure Training in Schools, Mandates Biennial Staff Education

The new Seizure Awareness and Preparedness Act is setting up a federal grant program to make sure schools are ready to handle a seizure emergency. This isn't just a suggestion; the bill authorizes $34.5 million in funding between 2026 and 2030 to help states and local school districts (LEAs) implement mandatory training and care protocols for students with epilepsy or other seizure disorders. The core idea is to move beyond good intentions and establish clear, medically-backed procedures for what happens when a student has a seizure in the classroom or on the bus.

The Fine Print: Mandatory Health Plans and Training

If you’re a parent of a student with a seizure disorder, this bill is all about creating two specific, crucial documents: the Individualized Health Care Plan and the Individualized Emergency Health Care Plan. Think of these as personalized, legally-backed instruction manuals. They must be developed by the student’s doctor, parents, and the school nurse, detailing specific symptoms and step-by-step instructions for emergency response. The school can only get grant money if they commit to using these plans.

For school staff—from the principal to the janitor and even the after-school program workers—this means mandatory training. Local districts receiving subgrants must use the money to train all personnel on seizure awareness and how to correctly follow those individualized plans. This isn't a one-and-done deal, either. The bill requires that all staff receive this training at least every two years, using a course approved by the Department of Education and provided by a national nonprofit focused on epilepsy support. This ensures everyone who interacts with a student is prepared, not just the health office.

Who’s On the Hook and Who’s Protected

Crucially, the bill puts the school nurse at the center of the action. They are required to coordinate all epilepsy and seizure disorder care for that student. This centralization is key for consistency, especially when you consider that the bill also requires specific training and notification for every school bus driver transporting a student with one of these conditions. Imagine the peace of mind for a working parent knowing the driver knows exactly what to look for and who to call.

There’s also a significant provision offering liability protection for school employees. If a teacher, nurse, or bus driver acts in good faith while following these plans during an emergency, they won't be held legally responsible for the outcome. This is a big deal, as it removes a major barrier that sometimes causes staff to hesitate during a medical crisis. However, this protection doesn't cover willful misconduct, gross negligence, or recklessness—so the staff still needs to do their job properly.

The Catch: Competition and Costs

While this bill is overwhelmingly positive for student safety, it’s important to remember how the money works. The $34.5 million is authorized for competitive grants. This means the Secretary of Education will award funds to states, and then those states will award subgrants to local districts. Not every district will get one. If you live in a district that misses out on the grant, your school may not be required to implement these robust training and planning requirements, potentially creating a gap in preparedness between funded and unfunded schools.

Furthermore, while the grants must add to existing resources and can’t replace current state or local spending (a rule called 'non-supplanting'), the overall cost is borne by taxpayers. This is the trade-off: a federal investment in standardized, high-level medical preparedness in schools, ensuring that a student’s safety during a seizure doesn't depend on luck, but on mandatory, funded training.