Glossary¶
Plain-language definitions of terms used in this book.
Absence seizure : A type of generalized seizure that looks like a brief staring spell with loss of awareness, often mistaken for daydreaming. (Older term: "petit mal.")
Charter school : A publicly funded school that operates independently of a traditional district. Covered by Minn. Stat. 121A.24, the same as public districts.
EDAN (Epilepsy Data & Advocacy Network) : The student-led initiative behind this textbook. It uses public data to advance epilepsy awareness, advocacy, and safety. Its first project maps and helps close seizure-safety gaps in Minnesota schools. See About EDAN.
Cohen's kappa : A statistic that measures how much two independent raters agree, corrected for chance. Values above 0.81 are considered "almost perfect" agreement.
Epilepsy : A medical condition in which a person tends to have repeated, unprovoked seizures. Diagnosed by a healthcare provider, usually after two or more such seizures.
Focal seizure : A seizure that begins in one area of the brain. The person may stay aware or may seem confused or unresponsive for a short time.
Generalized seizure : A seizure that involves both sides of the brain from the start, such as a tonic-clonic or absence seizure.
Individualized health plan (IHP) : A written plan kept by the school nurse describing how to manage a student's health condition at school. A seizure action plan is a type of IHP.
Licensed school nurse (LSN) : A registered nurse with additional school-nurse licensure. Minnesota requires LSNs in larger districts; about half of districts have none.
Logistic regression : A statistical method used to find which factors predict a yes/no outcome, such as whether a district posts a seizure plan.
Minn. Stat. 121A.24 : Minnesota's seizure-safety law (enacted 2021, effective school year 2022-23). Requires seizure action plans and staff training in public and charter schools.
MSBA Policy 516 : The Minnesota School Boards Association model policy on "Student Medication." Most districts use it; many versions never mention seizures.
Postictal phase : The recovery period right after a seizure, when a person may be tired, confused, or emotional.
Public findability : Whether a resource (here, a seizure plan) can be found by the public on a district's website. Not the same as legal compliance.
Rescue medication : Medication prescribed to stop a seizure that lasts too long or repeats, given according to a student's seizure action plan.
Seizure : A sudden, temporary burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
Seizure Action Plan (SAP) : A short written document, completed by family and healthcare provider, telling school staff exactly how to respond to a specific student's seizures.
Tonic-clonic seizure : A generalized seizure with stiffening (tonic) and rhythmic jerking (clonic). The most recognizable seizure type. (Older term: "grand mal.")
Title I : A federal program providing funds to schools with high percentages of students from low-income families; used as a marker of under-resourced districts.