• Student Medication

  • Students may receive or self-administer medication at school when the medication is medically necessary for health or learning and must be taken during the school day. Medication must be prescribed by a licensed physician. Alternative medications, such as herbal or homeopathic medications that are not tested by the US Food and Drug Administration for safety or effectiveness, lack safety information and therefore cannot be administered or taken at school.

     

    Required form for medication 

    Parent Request and Physician's Order Form for Medication

     
    School staff may administer medication to students only when the Parent and Physician Order for Medication form (Form 1702) is completed by the parent and physician and present at the school. Form 1702 is also available from the school. No medication will be given by a school official unless it is in a container dispensed by a pharmacy with the student’s name, name of medication, date prescription was filled, and directions clearly marked. A new medication form must be completed if there are changes in medication directions. Parents or guardians are responsible for monitoring medication expiration dates and replacing medication when expired.

    If there is no medication on hand in the event of an emergency, the school will call 911.

    At the beginning of each school year, an adult will need to bring the medicine along with the completed form 1702 to the school. The school cannot give medicine to your child without this form.

    • Elementary school
      • Only emergency medications may be self-carried and administered at the elementary level.
      • Sunscreen products and insect repellent products are considered medication and must be accompanied by a completed medication form. These products should be in the original container and labeled with the student’s name. Lip balm does not require a medication form and is for self-use and self-carry.
      • An adult is responsible for transporting all medicines at the elementary school level unless the medication is an emergency medication that the child has permission to keep with them. 
         
    • Middle and high school
      • Prescription medication may be self-carried and administered by the student if they have permission to do so documented on form 1702.
      • At the secondary level only and at the principal's discretion, self-administration of non-prescription medication is permitted without the Parent and Physician Order for Medication form. Medication should be in the original container and labeled with the student’s name. The student should carry no more than a daily dose in the appropriate container. 

     

    Student self-administration of emergency medications

    At all school levels, students may self-medicate with emergency prescription medication if they have permission to do so documented on their Parent and Physician Order for Medication form.
     
    State law allows students who have met certain conditions to carry and self-administer emergency medication during the school day and at all school-sponsored after-school events, including transportation to and from the event, for asthma and severe, life-threatening allergies (anaphylaxis). Medication includes asthma inhalers and injectable epinephrine.
    • The parent or guardian must provide the school with a completed Parent and Physician Order for Medication form. 
    • The student must be observed and certified by the school nurse to be able to self-administer the medication.

    Controlled Substances

    Controlled substances may be administered in the school setting with a completed medication form. Controlled substances may be self-administered and self-carried only in middle or high school. Medication should be in a container dispensed by a pharmacy with the student’s name, name of medication, date prescription was filled, and directions clearly marked. Students who self-carry should carry no more than a daily dose at any time.
     

    Disposal of Unused Medication

    All unused, discontinued, or expired medication must be returned to the parent or guardian or disposed of in accordance with the WCPSS Medication Disposal Process.

    Field Trips

    Medication administration information may not apply to all field trips.