By CalNews360 Staff
August 20, 2026
California is launching a new statewide program that will provide free emergency asthma inhalers and spacers to public and charter schools, giving schools access to medication that can be used when a student experiences a serious breathing emergency.
Governor Gavin Newsom announced the School Albuterol Access Initiative on Thursday, August 20. The program will provide emergency albuterol inhalers and spacers to approximately 10,000 California public and charter schools at no cost for three years, with schools able to begin applying next week.
The initiative is being carried out through California’s CalRx program in partnership with Amneal Pharmaceuticals.
Why this matters to California parents
Asthma is one of the most common chronic conditions affecting children.
The state estimates that approximately 1 million children in California have asthma, and about one in three children with active symptoms misses at least a week of school each year.
For a child experiencing a sudden asthma attack, having quick access to rescue medication can be extremely important.
The new program is designed to ensure that schools have emergency medication available even when a student does not have a personal inhaler immediately accessible.
What will schools receive?
Under the program, participating schools will receive albuterol metered-dose inhalers and disposable spacers for emergency use.
Albuterol is a commonly used quick-relief medication that can help open narrowed airways during an asthma episode.
The state says the program will provide schools with the medication at no cost for three years.
Schools won’t need individual prescriptions
One of the changes designed to make the program easier to implement is a statewide albuterol standing order.
The order, signed by California Department of Public Health Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Erica Pan, allows eligible schools to obtain the emergency medication without having to obtain an individual prescription from a private physician for each school.
That could make it easier for schools across the state to keep emergency medication available.
What happens when a student has an asthma emergency?
The medication is intended for emergency situations when a student is experiencing respiratory distress.
California says schools will receive training guidance covering areas such as recognizing respiratory distress, emergency inhaler procedures, and follow-up steps involving emergency services and parents or guardians.
The program is therefore not simply about putting inhalers in school offices. Staff also need to understand when and how emergency medication should be used.
Will every California school have the inhalers?
The state says the initiative is intended to reach approximately 10,000 public and charter schools across California.
The program applies to public and charter schools, while private schools can purchase the medication and spacers at discounted prices rather than receiving them through the free program.
Parents should therefore check with their child’s school if they want to know whether the school has received its emergency supply and what procedures are in place.
What parents should know
Parents of children with asthma should continue following their child’s individual asthma-management plan and should make sure the school has any required information or medication that the child personally needs.
The new statewide supply is intended as an emergency resource for schools. It should not be viewed as a replacement for a child’s prescribed asthma medication or medical care.
Parents should also ask their child’s school:
- Whether the school has received the emergency inhalers
- Who is trained to administer them
- What the school’s emergency asthma procedure is
- How parents will be notified during an emergency
- What information the school needs about a child’s existing asthma plan
A potentially important change for California schools
California officials describe the initiative as a nationwide first, making emergency asthma medication available through a statewide program covering public and charter schools.
The goal is straightforward: give school staff another tool to respond quickly when a student has difficulty breathing.
For families, the program could provide additional reassurance that schools have emergency resources available if a child experiences an unexpected asthma episode during the school day.
The bottom line
California is preparing to provide free emergency asthma inhalers and spacers to public and charter schools across the state for three years.
With approximately 1 million California children living with asthma, the state says the initiative is designed to improve emergency preparedness and reduce potentially dangerous delays in accessing rescue medication.
Schools are expected to begin applying for the program next week.
Parents should check with their children’s schools as the program rolls out to understand what emergency asthma resources will be available and how each school will handle respiratory emergencies.
Source: California Governor’s Office and California Department of Public Health.
Image note: The image used with this article is AI-generated for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an actual school, student, teacher, medical professional, or event.
