School Issues

School is a place for learning, friendships and fun. Having a diagnosis of cancer can create some challenges for your school, but we want school to be a positive experience for you during your cancer treatment and after your treatment is done. Your parents, teachers, other school staff and you will have lots of questions about your coming back to school. The most important and helpful advice in making a smooth, comfortable move back to school is to communicate and work with your school, teachers, parents and medical staff from the very beginning of your diagnosis.

In the hospital

You might be in the hospital for a short period of time, or for longer periods of time while receiving medical care. It is important to try to do some school work when you are feeling well and are able. You may also feel sad about being away from your friends and classmates. Here are some ways to help you keep up with your school work while in the hospital:

• Stay connected with your teacher(s) and classmates.
• Teachers can send assignments and materials home for you to work on while in the hospital.
• Keep up with your school work when possible.
• Your teacher(s) and classmates can call and talk with you when you are in the hospital. They can also send you cards, letters, class pictures or banners.
• Your teacher and classmates may come and visit you while in the hospital. Check with your parents and medical staff first for any restrictions, rules and OK times to visit.
• Most medical centers have their own hospital-based school teacher who can help with your assignments and keep in contact with your school.

At home

When you come home from the hospital, you may not be able to return to school for a while. You can still receive schooling services while you are at home. This is called Homebound School Services.

Your school will provide a teacher to come to your home and help you with your school studies. The teacher may spend 1-5 hours per week with you. You may receive homebound school services for part of the year, and attend school at other times depending on your treatment and health.

Returning back to school

When your doctor gives you the go-ahead to go back to school, this marks a milestone in your recovery and a return to some degree of normal life. Returning to school may be scary, exciting, challenging or a relief for you. Your hospital social worker, childlife specialist or psychologist can help discuss options for preparing you, your classmates and school personnel for your return to school. Some medical centers have information packets and workshops for school personnel, some can arrange school visits or provide other resources to help assure a smooth transition back to school. Remember that communication with your school and teacher(s) is very important.

Some important information to give to your teacher and school nurse may include:

• Basic information on your diagnosis.
• Your treatment plan and schedule.
• A list of the medications you might need to take while at school.
• Possible physical and emotional side effects from your treatments.
• Proper care of any catheters you may have.
• Any restrictions, special instructions or accommodations as prescribed by your doctor (such as Physical Education Adaptation, or information on sun exposure).
• Directions to develop a chicken pox, shingles and measles outbreak plan to ensure prompt reporting of these communicable diseases.
• Information about good hand washing techniques for classmates.
• Emergency phone numbers of your parents, doctor and health care team.
• There should be frequent updates of this information.

Special educational services

It is important to know about the special educational services available to you through the public school system, and how to receive the help you may need. Some students who are being treated for cancer may have special school and learning needs because of your illness and treatment. Some may have a learning disability because of a brain tumor, or radiation treatment to the head, a visual impairment, or mobility problems because of a surgery or amputation. You and your parents have certain rights and services available to help you with your educational goals.

504 – Accommodation Plan under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. This law requires schools to make reasonable accommodations to ensure full, meaningful access to educational programs for any child with cancer.

IEP – Individualized Education Plan under Special Education and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This special plan, in collaboration with your parents and school educators, provides specialized services and programs designed to meet your educational and learning needs. This may include the use of tutors, home schooling, speech therapy, physical therapy, counseling, transportation services, special physical education classes, special education teachers and other services.

Scholarships. There are different organizations that provide college scholarships to people who have or have had cancer. You can check with your hospital social worker about a listing of these resources.