Prescription Medications
Montgomery
County Public Schools personnel may give oral prescription medication to
students only with a physician/dentist/licensed nurse
practitioner'spursuant
to the written
order of a physician or
nurse practitioner and with
a signed written permissionrequest from the student's
parent or guardian. Such medicine must
be in the original container, and parents are requested to deliver the
medication to the principal, school nurse, or the principal’s designee.
Non‑prescription Medications
Montgomery County Public Schools personnel may give oral non‑prescription medication to students only with the written permission of the parent or guardian. Such permission shall include the name of the medication, the required dosage of the medication, and the time the medicine is to be given. Such medication must be in the original container labeled with the student's name and delivered to the principal, school nurse or school division designee by the parent/guardian of the student.
Oral non‑prescription medications will be administered for no longer than three consecutive days after which time a written order from a physician/dentist/licensed nurse practitioner must be presented.
Self‑Administration of Medication
Self‑administration of any medication, prescription or non‑prescription, is prohibited for students in grades kindergarten through eight with one exception. Medications needed in a medical emergency such as inhalers, epi‑pens, or glucose tablets may be kept in the possession of a student and may be self‑administered only with a physician/licensed nurse practitioner's written order and written parental permission that is on file with the school, and as is described further below.
Self-administration of prescription medications is prohibited for students in grades nine through twelve with one exception. Medications needed in a medical emergency such as inhalers, epi‑pens, or glucose tablets may be kept in the possession of a student and may be self-administered only with a physician/licensed nurse practitioner's written order and written parental permission that is on file with the school.
Students in grades nine through twelve may self‑administer non‑prescription medications under the following conditions:
1. written parental permission for self‑administration of specific non‑prescription medication is on file with the school;
2. the non‑prescription medication is in the original container and appropriately labeled with manufacturer's directions;
3. the original container is appropriately labeled with the student's name; and
4. the student possesses only the amount of non-prescription medicine needed for one school day/activity.
Sharing, borrowing, distributing,
manufacturing or selling any medication (prescription or non-prescription) is
prohibited. Permission to self-administer prescription or non-prescription
medication may be revoked if the student violates this policy. The student will
be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with the Code of Conduct and
the Alcohol and Other Drugs Policy.
Sharing and distributing prescription medication may result in a
recommendation of expulsion.
Student
Possession and Self-Administration of Asthma Medications and Auto-Injectable Epinephrine
Montgomery County Public Schools students with a diagnosis of asthma or anaphylaxis, or both, may possess and self-administer inhaled asthma medication or auto-injectable epinephrine, or both, as the case may be, during the school day, at school-sponsored activities, or while on a school bus or other school property, consistent with the provisions of this policy and applicable law.
1. The student must provide to the relevant school clinic a completed Authorization and Permission for Administration of Medication form, signed by his parent, guardian or legal custodian. The student must also provide a written order from an appropriate health care provider as is further described in paragraph 2, below. The medication must be properly labeled by the pharmacy or physician. The nurse or clinic attendant may require the student to demonstrate his ability to safely and effectively self-administer the medication, consistent with the other provisions of this policy. To evaluate the efficacy of the medication, the elementary school students who self-administer asthma medications should report to the nurse or clinic attendant within a reasonable time after taking the medications. Secondary school students who need and self-administer three doses of asthma medication per school day should report to the nurse or clinic attendant as soon as possible after administering the third dose for evaluation of respiratory status.
2. The
student must provide a written order from his primaryhealth care provider,
medical specialist, licensed physician or a licensed nurse practitioner, which
order must include: (i) the student’s name; (ii) a statement that the student
has a diagnosis of asthma or
anaphylaxis, or both, and approval to self-administer inhaled asthma
medications or
auto-injectable epinephrine, or both, that have been prescribed or
authorized for the student; (iii) the name and dosage of the medication, the
frequency in which it is to be administered and certain circumstances which may
warrant the use of inhaled asthma medications or auto-injectable epinephrine, or both,
such as before exercising or engaging in physical activity, to prevent the
onset of asthmatic symptoms or to alleviate asthmatic symptoms after the onset
of an asthmatic episode; and (iv) an attestation that the student has
demonstrated an ability to safely and effectively self-administer inhaled
asthma medications or
auto-injectable epinephrine, or both.
3. With cooperation from the student, his family and relevant school officials, the school nurse or clinician will develop an individualized health care plan for the student, which plan shall include emergency procedures for any life-threatening conditions. The student’s parent, legal guardian, or custodian shall complete the Parental Permission for Medical Care form.
4. School officials, including the relevant nurse or clinician, will not impose any limitations or restrictions on or revoke permission for the student to possess or self-administer inhaled asthma medications, auto-injectable epinephrine, or both, without first consulting with the student’s parent, legal guardian or custodian.
5. Self-administration of inhaled asthma medications, auto-injectable epinephrine, or both, by Montgomery County Public Schools students shall be consistent with the purposes of the Virginia School Health Guidelines and the Guidelines for Specialized Health Care Procedure Manuals, which are jointly issued by the Virginia Departments of Education and Health.
6. Disclosure or dissemination of information pertaining to the health condition of a student to School Board employees shall comply with the provisions of Virginia Code §§ 22.1-287 and 22.1-289, and the federal Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, 20 U.S.C. §1232(g).
Any school principal or other
School Board employee who, in good faith, without compensation, and in the
absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct, supervises the
self-administration of inhaled asthma medications or auto-injectable epinephrine, or both, by a
student, pursuant to this
Policy, mayshall not be held liable for any civil
damages for acts or omissions resulting from such supervision.
Further, no principal or School Board employee shall be liable for any
civil damages for injuries or deaths resulting from the misuse of
auto-injectable epinephrine. For the purposes of this Policy,
“employee” shall include any person employed by a local health department who
is assigned to a public
school pursuant to an agreement between the local health department and the
School Board.
The permission
granted a student with a diagnosis of asthma or anaphylaxis, or both, to possess and
self-administer inhaled asthma medications or auto-injectable epinephrine, or both, shall
be effective for one school year365 calendar days. Permission to possess and
self-administer inhaled asthma medications or auto-injectable epinephrine shall be
renewed annually. For the purposes of this section, “one school year”
means 365 calendar days.
Procedures
The division superintendent or his/her designee will develop procedures for administration of medicines to students. The regulation shall include provisions for the handling, storage, monitoring, documentation, and disposal of medication.
LEGAL REFERENCE: Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, § 22.1-78, 22.1-274.2, 22.1-287, 22.1-289, 54.1-2957.02; Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, 20 U.S.C. § 1232(g).
Adopted: April 2004
Revised: September August 2005