Health & Medical Information

The District recognizes that many students are diagnosed with potentially life-threatening food allergies. To address this issue and meet state law requirements concerning the management of food allergies and anaphylaxis among students, Board policy JLCDA, Students with Food Allergies, establishes procedures to provide appropriate support plans for students with food allergies. 

The Students with Food Allergies Policy provides guidelines for the development of a health care plan with the assistance of the licensed school nurse. Such plans typically address communication and emergency instructions between school officials and emergency responders, as well as reasonable accommodations to reduce the student’s exposure to agents that may cause allergic reactions. Plans may also include staff training provisions, access to emergency medications and reasonable accommodations under a “Section 504” or an Individual Education Plan when appropriate as determined by law.

School personnel shall not administer prescription or nonprescription medications to students unless appropriate administration cannot reasonably be accomplished outside of school hours. 

Medication may be administered to students only by school personnel whom a registered nurse has trained and delegated the task of administering such medication. For purposes of this policy, the term “medication” includes both prescription medication and nonprescription medication, but does not include medical marijuana. 

Student possession, use, distribution, sale or being under the influence of medication inconsistent with this policy shall be considered a violation of Board policy concerning drug and alcohol involvement by students and may subject the student to disciplinary consequences, including suspension and/or expulsion, in accordance with applicable Board policy. 

The administration of medical marijuana shall be in accordance with the Board’s policy on administration of medical marijuana to qualified students. 

The term “nonprescription medication” includes but is not limited to over-the-counter medications, homeopathic and herbal medications, vitamins and nutritional supplements. 

Medication may be administered to students only when the following requirements are met: 

1. Medication shall be in the original properly labeled container. If it is a prescription medication, the student’s name, name of the medication, dosage, how often it is to be administered, and name of the prescribing health care practitioner shall be printed on the container.

2. The school shall have received written permission from the student’s parent/guardian to administer the medication to the student and either: 

   • Written permission to administer the medication from the student’s health care practitioner with prescriptive authority under Colorado law; or 

   • a standing medical order, if the medication is an over-the-counter medication 35 such as Advil or Tylenol. 

3. The parent/guardian shall be responsible for providing all medication to be administered to the student, unless it is an over-the-counter medication such as Advil or Tylenol.

A student with asthma, a food allergy, other severe allergies, or a related, life-threatening condition may possess and self-administer medication to treat the student’s asthma, food or other allergy, anaphylaxis or related, life-threatening condition. Self-administration of such medication may occur during school hours, at school-sponsored activities, or while in transit to and from school or a school-sponsored activity. Student possession and self-administration of such medication shall be in accordance with district procedures. 

Authorization for a student to possess and self-administer medication to treat the student’s asthma, food or other allergy, anaphylaxis or other related, life-threatening condition may be limited or revoked by the school principal after consultation with the school nurse and the student’s parents/guardian if the student demonstrates an inability to responsibly possess and self-administer such medication. 

Please refer to Board policy JLCD regarding administering medications to students.