The following information is intended to be included in student handbooks that are provided to the parents/guardians of students upon a student’s registration. This information is not intended to replace Board Policy 7:270; it is intended to inform parents and students about our district’s policy for administering medicines to students and the steps that are required of parents prior to students taking medication during school hours or school activities. This information may also be distributed in any number of ways in order to best inform parents in advance of their child’s need to take medicines at school.

Students are not permitted to carry or store (i.e. in book bags, purses, lockers) medications, either prescription or non-prescription, during school hours unless first approved through the main office as described below.

In accordance with Board Policy 7:270, students should not take medication during school hours or during school-related activities unless it is necessary for a student’s health and well-being. When a student’s licensed health care provider and parent(s)/guardian(s) believe that it is necessary for the student to take a medication during school hours, they must request that the school dispense the medication to their child/ward and otherwise follow the District's procedures on dispensing medication.

No School District employee shall administer to any student, or supervise a student’s self-administration of, any prescription or non-prescription medication until a completed and signed School Medication Authorization Form is submitted by the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s). No student shall possess or consume any prescription or non-prescription medication on school grounds or at a school-related function other than as provided for in this policy and its implementing procedures. A student may possess medication prescribed for asthma for immediate use at the student’s discretion, provided the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s) have completed and signed a School Medication Authorization Form. The School District shall incur no liability, except for willful and wanton conduct, as a result of any injury arising from a student’s self-administration of medication or the medication’s storage by school personnel. Parent(s)/guardian(s) must indemnify and hold harmless the School District and its employees and agents, against any claims, except a claim based on willful and wanton conduct, arising out of a student’s self-administration of medication or the storage of the medication by school personnel.

Nothing in this policy shall prohibit any school employee from providing emergency assistance to students, including administering medication.

Guidelines and Procedures for Parents/Guardians

If at all possible, all doses of needed medication must be given at home rather than at school. Parent/guardians are responsible for the early morning doses at home unless otherwise specified.

Parent/Guardians are encouraged to come to school to give any necessary medication. They should notify the school office prior to their administering the medication.

1. Ask the child’s physician, dentist, or other health care provider who has authority to prescribe medications if a medication, either prescription or non-prescription, must be administered during the school day.“Medications” include an epinephrine auto-injector (“EpiPen®”) and asthma inhaler medication.

2. If so, ask the health care provider to complete a School Medication Authorization Form. This form must be completed and given to the school before the school will store or dispense any medication and before your child may possess asthma medication or an EpiPen®.

3. If a student is on a medication indefinitely, the parent/guardian must file a new School Medication Authorization Form every year.

4. Bring the medication to the school office. If the medicine is for asthma or is an EpiPen®, a student may keep possession of it for immediate use at the student’s discretion.

5. Bring prescription medication to the school in the original package or appropriately labeled container. The container shall display: 

   • Student's name

   • Prescription number

   • Medication named and dosage

   • Administration route and/or other direction

   • Dates to be taken

   • Licensed prescribers name

   • Pharmacy name, address, and phone number

6. At the end of the treatment regimen or when the student is taken off the medication, notify the school nurse orally or in writing and remove any unused medication from the school within one week after the expiration of the physician's order or before the last day of the school year. Medicine not removed will be destroyed (in the presence of another staff member and documented as such). Bottles containing medication will not be sent home with students.

The school district retains the discretion to reject requests for administration of medicine either by the school or by the student.

If you need additional information about this topic or have special circumstances that are not covered within the guidelines and procedures outlined above, contact your child's school health care professional or your child's school principal.