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JLCD

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  • Students
JLCD
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Boulder Valley School District
Adopted: Date of manual adoption
Revised: November 21, 1996, September 26, 2000, January 8, 2019, June 8, 2021, April 28, 2026

STUDENT MEDICATIONS

School personnel administration

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

Medication may be administered to students 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.

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, and topical applications.

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

  • The parent/guardian shall provide all medication to be administered to the student. Medication shall be in the original properly labeled container,
  • The school shall have received written permission from the student's parent/guardian to administer the medication to the student, 
  • The school shall have received from the student’s health care practitioner with prescriptive authority under Colorado law written authorization that includes the medication name, purpose, prescribed dosage, route, frequency, and length of time between doses.

All medication shall be securely stored in an appropriate cabinet or container.

Self-administration of medication by high school students

A high school student may possess and self-administer medication with the exception of a controlled substance including medical marijuana, during school hours, at school-sponsored activities, or while in transit to and from school or a school-sponsored activity  when the following requirements are met:

  • The school shall have received written permission and a release from the student’s parent/guardian for the student to self-carry and administer the medication,
  • The school shall have received from the student’s health care practitioner with prescriptive authority under Colorado law written authorization that includes the medication name, purpose, prescribed dosage, route, frequency, length of time between doses, and confirmation that the student has been instructed in and is capable of self-administration of the medication,
  • The school will prepare a health care plan or other appropriate documentation assigning levels of responsibility to the student’s parent/guardian, student, and school employees. A health care plan or other appropriate documentation shall typically be effective for the school year in which it is approved.

Authorization for a student to possess and self-administer medication may be limited or revoked by the school principal after consultation with the school nurse and the student's parent/guardian if the student demonstrates an inability to responsibly possess and self-administer such medication.

A student shall report to the school nurse or designee or to some adult at the school immediately after the student uses an emergency use epinephrine during school hours. Upon receiving such a report from a student, the school nurse, designee, or other adult will provide appropriate follow-up care to the student, that shall include making a 911 emergency call.  

Use of stock epinephrine auto-injectors in emergency situations

The School District shall have a stock supply of emergency use epinephrine for use in anaphylaxis events that occur on school grounds. Any administration of a stock epinephrine emergency medication to a student by a district employee shall be in accordance with applicable state law, including applicable State Board of Education rules.

The School District's stock supply of epinephrine emergency medication is not intended to replace student-specific orders or medication provided by the student's parent/guardian to treat the student's asthma, food or other allergy, anaphylaxis or related, life-threatening condition.

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.

Use of opiate antagonists in emergency situations

To the extent state funding and supplies are available, the School District shall have a stock supply of opiate antagonists to assist a student who is at risk of experiencing an opiate-related drug overdose event. For purposes of this policy, an opiate antagonist means naloxone hydrochloride or any similarly acting drug that is not a controlled substance and that is approved by the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of a drug overdose.

The stock supply of opiate antagonists may also be used to assist a School District employee or any other person who is at risk of experiencing an opiate-related drug overdose event.

Administration of an opiate antagonist by a School District employee to a student or any other person shall be in accordance with applicable state law.

LEGAL REFERENCES   

CROSS REFERENCES