As allergy season is already underway in many places, today we provide a list of the states that have the best policy record regarding school-based management of asthma and allergies. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) created the 2008 State Honor Roll of Asthma and Allergy Policies for Schools to help encourage states to recognize and develop better state-wide school-based policies and practices for students with asthma and allergies.

AAFA researchers identified 18 "core policy standards" related to asthma and allergies policy that are currently in place in states across the U.S. The policy standards formed three broad categories: medication&treatment, awareness, and school environment. The states with the most of these 18 policy standards in place were considered to be states to be at the forefront asthma and allergy school advocacy. Six states with a minimum of 15 out of the 18 policy standards in place were named "Honor Roll" states for their leadership in mandating comprehensive state-wide school policies that address the needs of students with asthma, food allergies, anaphylaxis and other related allergic diseases in primary and secondary schools. These states appear below, followed by the number (out of 18) policy standards they currently have in place. Thirteen other states made honorable mention, having 14 of the 18 policy standards in place, while the remaining 31 states still have some work to do to catch up.

The top 6 "Honor Roll" states for school asthma and allergy policies are:

1. Connecticut (17 of 18 policy standards)
2. New Jersey (17)
3. Vermont (17)
4. Rhode Island (16)
5. Massachusetts (15)
6. Washington (15)

For more information about seasonal allergies, consult the Healia Health Guide to Outdoor Allergies. For information on other types of allergies or asthma, see the Healia Health Guide on Allergies, or the Healia Health Guide to Asthma. Share your own experiences with asthma or allergies in the schools at the Healia Health Community for Asthma or the Healia Health Community for Allergy.

_{Source: Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 2008 State Honor Roll of Asthma and Allergy Policies for Schools, 9/08. Available at: http://aafa.org/pdfs/FINALv2_STATE_HONOR_ROLL%20Full%20Report%202008.pdf}

_{Photo: The TruthAbout..., Flickr, Creative Commons}