Chronic Conditions

If your student has a chronic condition, be an advocate for your student and follow these four steps at the beginning of every school year:

Complete the Student Medical Information Form and return to school. [ English | Spanish ]
Provide the school with the doctor’s forms that confirm the student’s health condition.
Have a doctor confirm the student’s health condition by submitting CPS Chronic Disease Reporting and Verification Process [ English | Spanish ]
Provide the school with the student’s medication and appropriate forms found in Administration of Medication section below
Work with the school to complete 504 Plan/IEP and/or Emergency Action Plan

Make sure your child’s school is aware of their chronic condition. Documenting asthma ensures proper protocols are followed at the school.

Physician Report on Child with Asthma [ English ]
Parent Request for Self-Administration of Medication [ English ]
Asthma Action Plan [ English | Spanish ]
Asthma Management Reference Sheet [ English | Spanish ]

Your child can carry and self-administer their inhaler as long as the school is provided with the Parent Request for Self-Administration of Medication form and a copy of the asthma medication prescription and original medication box/container.

All students with documented diabetes must be assigned a Delegated Care Aide (DCA) upon parent/guardian approval. DCAs must be full-time staff members who volunteer to assist students with diabetes when the school nurse is not available or not in the building. If no staff member volunteers, the Principal must act as the DCA.

Every child with physician-documented diabetes must be offered a 504 Plan/IEP. Plans must be updated annually and disseminated to students’ teachers, parents/guardians and the DCA.
Students are allowed to carry and self-administer insulin for diabetes with written permission from physician and parent/guardian.

CPS provides carbohydrate reports for school meals at cps.edu/menu.

Physician Report on Child with Diabetes [ English ]
Physician Request for Self-Administration of Medication [ English ]
Physician Request for Administration of Medication [ English ]
Parent Request for Self-Administration of Medication [ English ]
Parent Request for Administration of Medication [ English ]

Every child with a documented life-threatening allergy must be offered a 504 Plan/IEP. Plans must be updated annually and disseminated to students’ teachers and parents/guardians. Students are allowed to self-carry and self administer food allergy medication (epinephrine auto-injector) with written permission from parent/guardian.

Physician Report on Child with Allergies [ English ]
Parent Request for Self-Administration of Medication [ English ]
Physician Request for Student to Carry an EpiPen [ English ]
Food Allergy Action Plan [ English | Spanish ]
Food Allergy Management Reference Sheet [ English | Spanish ]
Physician Statement for Food Substitution [ English | Spanish ]
Physician Statement for Food Substitution Example [ English ]

For further questions on food substitutions, please contact food@cps.edu.

Epi-Pens

As part of the updated Administration of Medication Policy, OSHW provides emergency epinephrine to all schools in accordance with state law. Students with documented food allergies and other life-threatening allergies should self-carry their physician-prescribed epinephrine at school.

Full Administration of Medication Policy [ English ]
Parent Request for Self-Administration of Medication [ English ]
Epi-Pen Flyer [ English ]

Per the Illinois Seizure Smart School Act, starting in School Year 2020-2021, school staff will be required to receive training on seizures. In addition, all schools with a student with a seizure disorder should have a trained Seizure Delegated Care Aide to assist that student with their Seizure Action Plan. With the proper paperwork, students are permitted to carry any supplies, equipment, or medication they need to treat epilepsy.

Physician Report on Child with a Neurological Disorder [ ENGLISH ]
Seizure Action Plan [ ENGLISH | SPANISH ]

Over-the-counter medication

Designated school staff can dispense over the counter medications to students with written parent/guardian consent only. Students are NOT allowed to self-carry over the counter medication.

Prescription medication

Prescription medication requires a physician's note for school staff to administer. Both prescription and over the counter medication must be stored with school staff.
Students are allowed to self-carry and self-administer the following with only written permission from parent/guardian:

Asthma medication (inhaler)
Food allergy medication (epinephrine auto-injector)

Students are allowed to carry and self-administer insulin for diabetes with written permission from physician and parent/guardian.
For all other prescribed medication, if the nurse is not in the school at the time a student requires access to medication, the staff person(s) designated by the school’s principal is expected to follow the student’s Individual Health Care Plan and oversee the self-administration of medications for an individual student.

Administration of Medication Policy Resources

Full Administration of Medication Policy [ English ]
Parent Request for Administration of Medication to Student [ English ]
Parent Request for Self-Administration of Medication [ English ]
Physician Request for Self-Administration of Medication EPI PEN [ English ]
Physician Request for Self-Administration of Inhaler [ English ]
Physician Request for Self-Administration of Medication [ English ]
Physician Request for Administration of Medication [ English ]

Student Health and Wellness