Student Medications

When a student’s licensed health care provider and parent/guardian believe that it is necessary for the student to take prescription and/or over-the-counter medication during school hours, a request for the school to administer the medication to the student, or for the student to self-administer medication must be submitted. 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 Medication Request Form is received. Medication Request Forms must be signed by a healthcare provider as well as the parent/guardian and submitted to the school health office. This form is valid for the current school year and must be renewed annually at the beginning of each school year.

• Prescription medication must be brought to the school in the original container, labeled appropriately by the pharmacist or licensed prescriber.
• Over-the-counter (OTC), non-prescription medication, shall be brought in an unopened bottle with the manufacturer's original label listing ingredients and the child's name affixed to the container.
• Illinois law requires that the prescription label (on the box) of the asthma inhaler be provided to the school, which will serve as healthcare provider authorization. A Medication Authorization Form and Asthma Action Plan is required for the child who will self-carry/self-administer their inhaler. These forms must be renewed annually.

All medication must be brought in by a parent/guardian and will be kept in the health office with the exception of authorized self administered asthma and allergy medications. Prescription pills/tablets will be counted with the parent/guardian when provided. Controlled substances will be counted daily and stored in a double-locked narcotics cabinet. Please note that making changes to medication dosages or discontinuing medications requires written
authorization by the prescriber. Parents are responsible for providing and retrieving medication when it is no longer required in school. Medication not retrieved by the parent will be disposed of appropriately.

A student may possess medication prescribed for asthma or an epinephrine auto injector for immediate use at the student’s discretion, provided:

1. The student’s parent/guardian and healthcare provider have completed and signed the Medication Request Form authorizing the agreement for student self carry/self administration of Asthma Medication or Epinephrine Auto Injector; and
2. The student has a current Asthma Action Plan or Allergy Action Plan on file for the current school year.

The School District does not incur any liability, except for willful and wanton conduct, as a result of any injury arising from a student’s self-administration of medication.

The District reserves the right to deny requests for administration of medication in school.

Board Policy 7:270 Administering Medicines to Students