Medications at School

We are accepting over the counter (OTC) medications for routine ailments such as headache, body aches, diarrhea, etc. We will only take OTC medications that are prescribed by a health care provider for things such as anaphylaxis, migraine headaches, a recent surgery/injury, etc., and they must be accompanied by the proper documentation (see below). 

Before bringing medication, please ensure the following steps are completed:

• Call your child’s school to make an appointment with the nurse (see instructions above).
• Bring a Provider/Parent authorization (PPA) form for each medication you are bringing in for your child and ensure that it is filled out by your child’s health care provider completely (Name, DOB, the reason for taking medication (diagnosis), dosage, etc.) and signed by you, the parent or guardian. 
• Check the expiration date on all medication labels. For prescription bottles, be sure the date on the pharmacy label is not older than one calendar year. For prescribed OTC medications, the expiration date must be on the unopened container. All medications, whether prescription or over the counter (OTC), must be delivered to the school nurse by the student’s parent/guardian. 

Medications must not be transported on the school bus (except emergency medications and approved medications prescribed for self-administration).

 A student may carry an emergency, lifesaving medication after the proper medical documentation has been submitted to the school nurse.  The student, parent, and school nurse must sign a “self-administration agreement”. All medication must be recorded with the proper documentation with the school nurse.

A Medication Authorization Form must be completed and signed by the student’s parent/guardian before any medication (prescription or nonprescription) may be administered to a student during the school day or extracurricular activity.  If a medication is prescribed by a physician/licensed prescriber, the medication authorization form must be signed by the physician/prescriber before the medication is administered.  Please contact your school’s nurse for a copy of this form.

A student must not keep medications, whether prescription or over-the-counter, with him/her, on his/her person, in his/her locker, or in his/her car during the school day or during school activities unless specifically prescribed for self-medication by a physician/prescriber. 

Once the medication has been received by a parent/guardian, the school nurse will count, inspect, and properly secure the medication.

For prescription medications, a current pharmacy-labeled container is required which includes the student’s name, physician/prescriber’s name, name of the medication, strength, dosage, time interval, route, and date of drug’s discontinuation, when appropriate.  If the administration of this medication will be longer than two weeks, the parent/guardian should request two containers from the pharmacist, with one labeled for school use. Prescription samples must have a completed Medication Authorization form signed by the physical/prescriber and parent.  The School Medication Prescriber/Parent Authorization form must be completed and signed by the same physician/prescriber listed on the pharmacy prescription label.

When the medication to be given is a nonprescription or over-the-counter medication, it is to be unexpired and sealed in its original container.  This container should identify the medication and provide all the manufacturer’s labeling and instructions. Medications, which are sent to the school in other containers or wrapped in such items as Kleenex, paper towel, etc., will not be administered to students.  A medication authorization form must also be completed and signed by the student’s parent/guardian only before any medication is administered.

Every effort will be made to notify the parent/guardian within 30 (thirty) days of the pending expiration date of medication(s).

The parent/guardian should pick up student’s medication which has not been used at the end of the school year.  All unused medications not picked up by a parent/guardian will be properly disposed/discarded according to FDA guidelines.

The parent/guardian must provide the school with a new Medication Authorization Form (PPA-signed by the physician/prescriber and parent/guardian) if medication orders are changed at any time during the school year.

It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to inform the school nurse of any medical services needed for after school or extracurricular activities.  An out of town/overnight medical release form is to be completed and submitted 7 days prior to the activity. The Medical Release form may be obtained from the school nurse or printed from the system’s website.

Click here for the Provider/Parent Authorization form - English

Click here for the Provider/Parent Authorization form - Spanish