Administering medication during school hours is discouraged unless it is necessary for the critical health and well-being of the student in order to attend school. When a student’s licensed health care provider and guardian believe that it is necessary for the student to take medication during school hours or school-related activities, the guardian must request that the school dispense the medication to the child by completing an Authorization to Administer Prescription and/or Over the Counter Medication Form.

No school or district employee is allowed to administer to any student, or supervise a student’s self-administration of, any prescription or non-prescription medication until a completed and signed Authorization to Administer Prescription and/or Over the Counter Medication Form is submitted by the student’s guardian. Students are not allowed to possess any prescription or over-the-counter medication in school or at a school-related function other than as described below. Medication to be administered at school must be brought to school by the guardian in the original packaging and accurately labeled for each student.

Students may self-administer (defined as a student’s discretionary use of and ability to carry) their emergency medication, such as asthma rescue inhalers and epinephrine auto-injectors as follows:

• Asthma Rescue Inhalers: For a student to self-administer, the guardian must provide written authorization and a copy of the prescription label containing the name of the medication, the prescribed dosage, and the time at which or circumstances under which the medication is to be administered. This label will be affixed to the Authorization to Administer Prescription and/or Over the Counter Medication form or guardian agreement for the child to carry an inhaler. The student will sign an agreement indicating his/her understanding of the administration of the medicine, proper time, that medication will not be shared, where the medication will be kept, and that they will come directly to the nurse’s office if the medication is ineffective.
• Epinephrine Auto-Injectors: For a student to self-administer, the guardian must provide written authorization by both the guardian and the licensed prescriber on the Illinois Food Allergy Emergency Action Plan and Treatment Authorization Form. This must include the name and purpose of the auto-injector, the dosage prescribed, circumstances, and time/times at which the auto-injector will be administered.

The School and District shall incur no liability, except for willful and wanton conduct, as a result of any injury arising from a student’s self-administration of medication or epinephrine auto-injector or the storage of any medication by school personnel. A student’s guardian must agree to indemnify and hold harmless the School District and its employees and agents, against any claims, except a claim based on willful and wanton conduct, arising out of a student’s self-administration of an epinephrine auto-injector and/or asthma inhaler, or the storage of any medication by school personnel.