Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) has agreed to settle allegations that it violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by failing to adequately accommodate a young student with Type 1 diabetes, federal prosecutors announced.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee said the agreement resolves claims that MNPS and Ross Early Learning Center (Ross ELC) restricted the use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology for a three-year-old student during the 2023–2024 school year. The child’s parents alleged that school staff refused to consistently monitor the CGM device after the school nurse left in the afternoons, forcing the family to take over monitoring duties or limit the student’s time in class.
According to the complaint, Ross ELC initially allowed the use of a CGM receiver provided by the parents but later prohibited it and limited communication about the device to phone calls or password-protected emails. The parents temporarily withdrew their child from the school for about a month before returning on a half-day schedule to ensure the student received medical oversight while the nurse was present. The family reported incidents of dangerously high or low blood sugar levels during school hours that required immediate intervention.
Under the settlement, MNPS will revise district-wide policies to ensure students with Type 1 diabetes can use CGMs prescribed by a medical professional. The agreement also requires the district to equip trained staff with appropriate devices to receive CGM alerts, monitor blood glucose readings during the school day and at school-sponsored events, and make related policies available on the district’s website. MNPS will also pay the family $1,000 as part of the resolution.
Acting U.S. Attorney Robert E. McGuire called the settlement “a win for MNPS students and parents,” emphasizing that enforcing federal disability law protects vulnerable children. The district cooperated with federal officials to reach the agreement, and there was no formal finding of liability.
The ADA, enacted in 1990, guarantees individuals with disabilities equal access to public services, programs, and activities.
