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:
- Access the required forms for your student’s health condition by visiting cps.edu/medicalforms or speaking with your school nurse.
- Ask your student’s medical provider to complete and sign the forms.
- Bring signed forms and medication to the school nurse for review
- Work with the school to complete a 504 Plan/IEP or Emergency Action Plan.
Asthma
Students with asthma must be offered a 504 Plan. Plans must be updated each year and reviewed by school staff who work with your child.
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 or container. Access these forms at cps.edu/medicalforms.
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This project was funded through the generous support of Blue Cross Blue Shield Illinois.
Diabetes
Students with diabetes must be offered a 504 Plan. Plans must be updated each year and reviewed by school staff who work with your child.
All students with documented diabetes must be assigned a Diabetes 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.
Type 1 Diabetes Resources in Accordance with IL Public Act 103-0641
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This project was funded through the generous support of Blue Cross Blue Shield Illinois.
Allergies
Every child with a documented life-threatening allergy must be offered a 504 Plan. Plans must be updated each year and reviewed by school staff who work with your child. Students are allowed to self-carry and self administer emergency food allergy medication (such as an epinephrine auto-injector) with written permission from their parent or guardian. A health care provider’s note is not required for epinephrine. Access these forms at cps.edu/medicalforms.
For questions about food substitutions in the school dining center, please contact food@cps.edu.
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This project was funded through the generous support of Blue Cross Blue Shield Illinois.
EpiPens
As part of the CPS’ 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.
Seizure
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.
Administration of Medication
Over-the-Counter Medication
Over the counter medications will be treated in the same manner as all other medications during the school hours. Students requiring over the counter medication during school hours or school sponsored activities must also be authorized in writing by the student’s parent/guardian and a medical provider order with indication. When authorized, administration of over the counter medications to a student is further subject to the same requirements as prescription medications. Students are not authorized by this policy to carry and self-administer over the counter medications during school hours.
Prescription Medication
Prescription medication requires a health care provider's note for school staff to administer. Prescription medication must be stored with school staff.
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.