Policy 527-R Student Medication Regulations

A. All medications, both prescribed and OTC, administered at school requires a medical order from a person who is a licensed authorized prescribing practitioner (Physician, Physician’s assistant, Dentist, Podiatrist, Osteopath or Psychiatrist).

B. An “Authorization to Administer Medications at School” form must be completed for each medication administered at school. The form must include the student’s name, medication, dosage, route, and administration time as well as the signature of the health care provider and parent/guardian. A new form must be submitted each year and any time there is a change in the order.

C. An oral request from the prescriber for administration of medication must be reduced to writing within 2 school days.

D. Prescription and OTC medication must be provided in a pharmacy labeled container or original packaging with directions consistent with that on the medication authorization form.

E. The Licensed School nurse may request further information regarding the prescription, if needed, prior to administration of the medication.

F. All medication will be stored and administered in the health office, with the exception of emergency medication such as injectable emergency medications or inhalers if these have been approved for self-administration or carrying by the student as allowed by law.

G. The health paraprofessional or Licensed School Nurse will count and record all controlled medications that are received and administered. Any destroyed medication must also be documented to assure that there is an accounting for all medication. Medication disposal will follow the district’s Pharmaceutical Waste procedure.

H. Health office personnel will record all medications given in the student’s electronic health record.

I. Exceptions to these guidelines:

1. Emergency medications such as injectable emergency medications or inhalers before the above requirements are met. However, parents should be directed to supply the necessary information as soon as is reasonably possible.

2. Medicine provided or administered by a public health agency to prevent or control an illness or a disease outbreak are not governed by this policy;

3. Medications can be self-administered by a student with an asthma inhaler if:

I. The school district has received a written authorization from the student’s medical provider and parent/guardian permitting the student to self-administer the medication;

II. The inhaler is properly labeled for that student; and

III. the parent/guardian has not requested school personnel to administer the medication to the student

The parent must submit written authorization for the student to self-administer the medication each school year. The licensed school nurse must assess the students’ knowledge and skills to safely possess and use an asthma inhaler in a school setting and enter into the student’s school health record a plan to implement safe possession and use of asthma inhalers.

4. Medications:

• that are used off school grounds;
• that are used in connection with athletics or extracurricular activities; or
• that are used in connection with activities that occur before or after the regular school day

5. A secondary student (grades 7-12) may possess and use nonprescription pain relief in a manner consistent with the labeling, if the school district has received written authorization from the student’s medical provider and parent or guardian permitting the student to self-administer the medication. The parent or guardian must submit written authorization for the student to self-administer the medication each school year. The school district may revoke a student’s privilege to possess and use nonprescription pain relievers if the school district determines that the student is abusing the privilege. This provision does not apply to the possession or use of any drug or product containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine as its sole active ingredient or as one of its active ingredients.

6. At the start of each school year or at the time a student enrolls in school, whichever is first, a student’s parent, school staff, including those responsible for student health care, and the prescribing medical professional must develop and implement an individualized written health plan for a student who is prescribed epinephrine auto-injectors that enables the student to:

I. possess epinephrine auto-injectors; or

II. if the parent and prescribing medical professional determine the student is unable to possess the epinephrine, have immediate access to epinephrine auto-injectors in close proximity to the student at all times during the instructional day. The plan must designate the school staff responsible for implementing the student’s health plan, including recognizing anaphylaxis and administering epinephrine auto-injectors when required, consistent with state law. This health plan may be included in a student’s § 504 plan.

7. The school district will not administer medications, including herbal medicines that are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Prescription medication as used in this policy does not include any form of medical cannabis as defined in Minn. Stat. § 152.22, Subd. 6.

• Minn. Stat. § 13.32 (Student Health Data)
• Minn. Stat. § 121A.21 (Hiring of Health Personnel)
• Minn. Stat. § 121A.22 (Administration of Drugs and Medicine)
• Minn. Stat. § 121A.221 (Possession and Use of Asthma Inhalers by Asthmatic Students)
• Minn. Stat. § 121A.222 (Possession and Use of Nonprescription Pain Relievers by Secondary Students)
• Minn. Stat. § 121A.2205 (Possession and Use of Epinephrine Auto- Injectors; Model Policy)
• Minn. Stat. § 121A.2207 (Life-Threatening Allergies in Schools; Stock Supply of Epinephrine Auto-Injectors)
• Minn. Stat. § 151.212 (Label of Prescription Drug Containers) Minn. Stat. § 152.22
• (Medical Cannabis; Definitions)
• Minn. Stat. § 152.23 (Medical Cannabis; Limitations)
• 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq. (Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004)
• 29 U.S.C. § 794 et seq. (Rehabilitation Act of 1973, § 504)

• MSBA/MASA Model Policy 418 (Drug-Free Workplace/Drug-Free School)

• Adopted: February 9, 1987
• Amended: December 12, 2005
• Amended: August 22, 2007
• Amended: August 10, 2015
• Amended: June 10, 2019
• Last Reviewed: June 10, 2019

• Policy 527 - Student Medication