Childhood Epilepsy and School: What Gilbert and East Valley Families Need to Know

By Dr. Tamara Zach MD — May 10, 2026

A child with epilepsy attends school just like any other child — but their family carries an extra layer of responsibility: making sure the school environment is safe, that staff are prepared to respond to a seizure, and that any learning challenges related to the condition or its treatment are properly supported. For families in Gilbert, Power Ranch, Layton Lakes, Chandler, and across the East Valley, Dr. Tamara Zach MD at Rose Medical Pavilion helps navigate this intersection between neurology and education.

The Seizure Action Plan: Your First Document

Every child with epilepsy who attends school should have a Seizure Action Plan on file with the school nurse and classroom teacher. This is a one-page document (templates are available through the Epilepsy Foundation) that specifies:

• Your child's name, photo, and emergency contacts
• Type(s) of seizures your child has and what they look like
• Typical duration of seizures
• What to do during a seizure and what NOT to do
• Rescue medication instructions (if prescribed) and who is authorized to administer it
• When to call 911
• Post-seizure instructions (allow child to rest, do not send home alone, etc.)

Dr. Zach can help you complete this document and will provide the medical information the school needs. Most Chandler Unified, Gilbert Unified, and Mesa Public Schools nurses are familiar with Seizure Action Plans, but the specific details must come from your child's neurologist.

504 Plan vs. IEP: Which Does Your Child Need?

Many children with epilepsy benefit from a formal accommodation plan at school. The two main options are:

Section 504 Plan: A civil rights protection that requires schools to provide reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities that affect daily activities. A 504 plan does not require that a child have academic performance deficits — it is for students who need accommodations to access education safely. Common 504 accommodations for epilepsy include:

• Permission to keep water at the desk (dehydration lowers seizure threshold)
• Flexible attendance policies for medical appointments
• Permission to test in a quiet room if medication causes fatigue or concentration issues
• Nurse check-in protocol after a seizure before returning to class
• Communication protocol between school and parents after any seizure event

IEP (Individualized Education Program): For children who have epilepsy-related academic or cognitive impairments — such as learning difficulties related to anti-seizure medications, cognitive effects of frequent seizures, or co-existing conditions like ADHD or developmental delays — an IEP provides both accommodations and specialized instruction. IEPs require educational testing and documentation of educational impact.

Dr. Zach can provide medical documentation to support either a 504 or IEP process, and will outline in plain language how your child's epilepsy affects their learning and school safety needs.

How Seizures and Anti-Seizure Medications Affect Learning

This is an underappreciated part of pediatric epilepsy management. Seizures themselves — particularly if frequent or occurring during sleep — can disrupt memory consolidation and cognitive function. Some anti-seizure medications, particularly older drugs like phenobarbital or valproate, can affect processing speed, attention, or memory in some children.

During office visits, Dr. Zach regularly screens for these effects and will adjust medication if cognitive side effects are significant. If a child's academic performance declined after starting a new medication, that is important information — not a coincidence to be dismissed. Teachers and parents are often the first to notice cognitive effects that don't show up in clinic visits.

Sports and Physical Education

Children with well-controlled epilepsy can and should participate in physical activity and sports. The American Academy of Neurology and the American Academy of Pediatrics both support full participation in most sports for children with controlled seizures. Exceptions or modifications apply to activities with significant drowning risk (unsupervised swimming), heights (certain gymnastics, climbing), or high-speed collision risk depending on seizure control status.

Dr. Zach will work with you and your child's school to create appropriate PE and sports participation guidelines that keep your child safe without unnecessarily restricting activity.

For Gilbert and East Valley Families

Rose Medical Pavilion is approximately 25–30 miles from most Gilbert and Chandler communities. Our team works closely with Gilbert Unified, Higley Unified, and Chandler Unified school districts. If your child has epilepsy and needs help coordinating school accommodations, contact our office at (623) 257-ROSE (7673). Visit our community pages for Gilbert, Power Ranch, and Chandler, and our epilepsy and seizures service pages for more information.