4400 -ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICATION TO STUDENTS

The Durham County Board of Education discourages administration of medication to students during the school day when medicine could be taken outside of school hours.

Pursuant to G.S. 115C-307(c) and 115C-375.1, school employees may administer medication, including over-the-counter medication, when prescribed by a doctor, upon written request of a student’s parent or guardian. Administration of medication during school hours by school personnel is discouraged.

Only school personnel, parents, or guardians will be allowed to administer medicine to a student during the school day. Self-medication by students is allowed only in accordance with Section C of this policy. Students are prohibited from sharing medication with other students.

It is the parent or guardian’s responsibility to alert school personnel to any possible adverse reaction to medication. The first dose of any medication must be given at home to help prevent an adverse reaction occurring at school.

4400.1 Pre-Kindergarten Students

A. School personnel may only administer prescription or over-the-counter medication to a student enrolled in a pre-kindergarten program when accompanied by a written authorization that includes the student’s name, date or dates for which the authorization is applicable, dosage instructions, and signature of the student’s parent or legal guardian and doctor.

B. In the event of a medical emergency, and the parent or legal guardian of a pre-kindergarten student is unavailable, school employees may administer medication to the student if they receive authorization to do so by a medical care provider authorized to prescribe the medication.

4400.2 Kindergarten - 12th Grade Students

A. Medication prescribed by a doctor, including over-the-counter medication prescribed by a doctor, that is administered by school personnel during school hours must be accompanied by a doctor’s signature certifying that the medication must be dispensed during school hours. Medication prescribed by a doctor should be delivered by the parent or guardian to the school in its original container with the completed “Administration of Medication” form signed by a doctor.

1. Medication shall be dispensed from a central location designated by the principal of each school. It is the responsibility of the principal or designee to see that the medications are kept locked in a central secure location (except for medications requiring refrigeration), designate two or more persons for the administration and security of medications, and designate staff to maintain proper documentation of the time and dosage of medications given on a form developed by the Durham
   County Schools. The completed medication form should be maintained through the end of the school year.
2. No teacher, assistant teacher, or volunteer shall administer any prescription medication within the classroom setting except in the case of self-contained exceptional children’s classrooms where it would be inappropriate to send students to the office or in individual cases in regular classrooms where the principal and the teacher agree that a specific student would be better served by classroom administration of medication. In cases where classroom administration is approved, there shall be a locked storage facility within the classroom and appropriate record keeping shall be maintained.
3. Principals may present for approval to the board a plan for classroom-based administration of medication which provides the board assurances of medication security and privacy of students.

B. At all grades, students may self-medicate on school property during the school day, at school-sponsored activities, or while in transit to or from school or school-sponsored activities, only under the following conditions:

1. For non-prescription medicine, the student's parent or guardian must complete the “Authorization for Self-Medication by DPS Students” form for the student to possess and self-administer medication. The student’s parent or guardian must agree that the student will bring to school no more than the recommended dosage of non-prescription medication needed for each day on which the student is authorized to self-medicate. The student's parent or guardian must acknowledge in writing that the Durham Public Schools Board of Education and its employees and agents are not liable for an injury arising from the student's possession and self-administration of medication.
2. For prescription medicine, the student’s parent or guardian must complete the “Authorization for Self-Medication by DPS Students” form for the student to possess and self-administer medication. The student's parent or guardian must acknowledge in writing that the Durham Public Schools Board of Education and its employees and agents are not liable for an injury arising from the student's possession and self-administration of medication.

In addition, the school must have a written statement from the student's health care practitioner on the “Authorization for Self-Medication By DPS Students” form that the health care practitioner prescribed medication for use on school property during the school day, at school-sponsored activities, or while in transit to or from school or school-sponsored events. The statement shall include:

1. Confirmation that the student understands, and has been instructed in self-administration of the medication, and has demonstrated the skill level necessary to use the medication and any device necessary to administer the medication;
2. A written treatment plan and written emergency protocol;

If the diagnosis is asthma or allergy, verification that the student has asthma, or an allergy that could result in an anaphylactic reaction, or both.
The permission granted by the school for a student to self-possess and administer prescription medication shall be effective only for that same school and for 365 calendar days, and must be renewed annually.

If a student uses the medication in a manner other than as intended or prescribed, or shares the medication with other students, the school may impose on the student disciplinary action according to the discipline policy, but may not limit or restrict the student's immediate access to prescription medication.

The storage of self-administered medications is determined by the principal based on the nature of the medication, age of the student, and the student’s ability to maintain safe use, including the student’s keeping the medication on their person.

In cases where students self-administer medication during the school day, the Durham County Board of Education will assume no liability.

C. At the end of the school year, or if medication is discontinued, any medication not picked up by the parent or guardian within 2 weeks will be destroyed.

D. A confidential prescription medication log shall be maintained for each child receiving medication.

E. School personnel may not administer any medication except that provided by the parent, not to exceed manufacturer’s recommended dosage.

F. Principals shall provide staff development on the importance of administering medications in a manner to insure the privacy of the student to the extent possible.

G. Principals shall develop procedures to insure that parents and students are informed of this policy at the beginning of each year.

H. School personnel designated to administer medications during school hours shall be trained by the school nurse.

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