KUNSBERG SCHOOL

Unique pediatric programs at National Jewish provide comprehensive care and disease-management services for thousands of children with respiratory, allergic and immune disorders including asthma, atopic dermatitis, vocal cord dysfunction, sickle cell anemia, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and food allergies.

One such program, the Stanley Kunsberg School for chronically ill children on the National Jewish campus, provides a successful, working model to address the needs of children in grades K-8 whose education is interrupted by chronic illness.  The Kunsberg School — the only school of its kind in the country — is state-accredited and prepares students to reenter public school by helping them catch up academically, while teaching children and their parents how to manage illness. 

Kunsberg School is approved by and partially funded by the Colorado Department of Education, but funds from philanthropic giving allow us to maintain small class size and to provide nursing services, medical education and psychosocial counseling.  To operate the Kunsberg School, we must raise more than $1.5 million each year from private sources. 

Community support and partnerships help us maintain the Kunsberg School’s unique features:

Classes do not exceed 15 so students benefit from a low pupil-teacher ratio.  Teachers provide individual attention and encouragement in the classroom, and the children acquire confidence and discipline.  Attendance and academic performance improve dramatically for many students, resulting in increased class participation and higher scores on state standardized achievement tests.

Students work with three staff nurses to learn how to manage their illness with easy-to-follow action plans.  Three full-time nurses monitor the children’s medical needs.  Medications and symptoms are monitored to stave off problematic episodes, and students can concentrate on their studies.

By understanding each student’s exercise capabilities and limitations, a realistic exercise program is designed to meet the needs of the student.  Most of the children come from schools where they were either forced to sit on the sidelines while the other children played or were forced to participate in physical activities when they were not able.  Kunsberg has its own on-site gymnasium, swimming pool and rock-climbing wall, giving children the opportunity to exercise every day in the way that is best for them.

The school Child Advocate is available to counsel the children and their families regarding the complex emotional, social and developmental aspects of chronic disease and coping with illness.

Kunsberg students receive free, well-balanced meals.  The government offers partial reimbursement for the free breakfast program and the free or low-cost lunch program.  Kunsberg is the only Colorado school ever to win the HealthierUS School Challenge Gold Award for excellence in nutrition, nutritional education and physical education.