Medication Administration in Schools

Medication Administration in Schools

Healthy students are better prepared to learn, grow, and thrive. The Fairbanks North Star Borough School District (FNSBSD) Health Services team supports students who require medication during the school day by working collaboratively with families and healthcare providers to provide safe, consistent, and student-centered care.

Whenever possible, medications should be administered at home. However, the District recognizes that some students may need medication during school hours to support their health, safety, and ability to participate fully in learning. In these situations, authorized school personnel may assist with medication administration in accordance with district procedures.

Before any medication can be accepted or administered at school, all required authorization forms must be completed and submitted to the school Health Office. Medication authorizations are valid for one school year (July 1 - June 30) and must be renewed annually. New authorization forms are required whenever there is a change in medication, dosage, or healthcare provider instructions. Medications prescribed by out-of-state healthcare providers who are licensed to practice medicine in the United States may be administered for up to two (2) weeks. After two weeks, a prescription from an Alaska-licensed healthcare provider is required for medication administration to continue, or the parent/guardian must pick up the medication from the school Health Office.

Need More Information?

Families who would like to review the district's complete medication administration procedures may view Administrative Regulation 5141.21 – Administering Medication:
View AR 5141.21

To support safe storage and medication management, all medications, except liquid medications, must be provided in quantities not exceeding a 30-day supply per submission, unless otherwise approved by the school Health Office. There is no limitation on liquid medications.

Students are not permitted to transport prescription medications to or from school. All prescription medications must be delivered to and retrieved from the school health office by a parent/guardian or other authorized responsible adult. Medications sent with students will not be accepted under any circumstance. If a student does bring medication to school: 

• It will be stored securely in the Health Office medication cabinet, and the parent or guardian will be notified to retrieve it. 
• Even if all required forms for administration are already on file the parent or guardian must still come in person to sign the Medication Inventory Log before the medication can be administered.

Medications must be picked up by a parent/guardian or authorized responsible adult when no longer needed or at the end of the school year.

All medications accepted by the school are stored and administered in accordance with district procedures. Medication administration is documented in the District’s electronic health record system and maintained by authorized Health Office personnel.

Student health records are confidential and are only accessible to authorized Health Office personnel who require access to support student health needs, medication administration, documentation, and health-related responsibilities. This includes Health Services staff such as school nurses, health assistants, and trained designated personnel who are authorized to access health information as part of their assigned duties. General school district staff do not have access to student health records maintained in the electronic health record system.

Emergency medications, including epinephrine auto-injectors, asthma inhalers, and emergency seizure medications, are stored and managed in accordance with the student’s approved Action Plan and district procedures to ensure timely access during a medical emergency. The Health Office works with families, healthcare providers, and appropriate school personnel to ensure emergency medications are available when needed while maintaining appropriate medication security and safety requirements.

Some medications require secure, locked storage based on medication safety requirements and pharmacy handling standards. The Health Office collaborates with families, healthcare providers, and appropriate school programs to ensure emergency medications are safely stored and available when needed for students participating in the school day, after-school programs, or school-sponsored activities.

Students have the right to refuse medication. If a student refuses medication, school health staff will attempt to determine the reason for the refusal and notify the parent/guardian.

School personnel will not use physical force or extraordinary measure to administer medications.

All medications must be picked up by a parent/guardian when discontinued or at the end of the school year.
Medications not retrieved will be disposed of in accordance with district procedures.

Prescription medications for the school year require:

• A completed Long-Term Prescription Authorization form (PDF) signed by both the healthcare provider and parent/guardian.
• All Long-Term Prescription Authorization forms must include: student name, name of medication, dosage, time of administration, and reason for administration.
• Medication in the original pharmacy-labeled container.
• A pharmacy label that matches the healthcare provider's order. Families may request that the pharmacy provide a properly labeled bottle for school use.

Prescription medications for short term administration (10 days or less) require:

• A completed Short-Term Medication Authorization (PDF)  form signed by parent/guardian.
• All Short-Term Medication Authorization forms must include: student name, name of medication, dosage, time of administration, and reason for administration.
• Medication in the original pharmacy-labeled container.
• A pharmacy label that matches the healthcare provider's order. Families may request that the pharmacy provide a properly labeled bottle for school use.

The Health Office will NOT:

• Administer expired medications.
• Administer medication without the required documentation.
• Administer the first dose of a medication. First doses must be given at home where the student can be monitored for possible side effects or adverse reactions.

Students requiring emergency medications must have a current Action Plan completed by the healthcare provider and parent/guardian. Examples include:

• Asthma Action Plans - PDF
• Allergy/Anaphylaxis Action Plans - PDF
• Seizure Action Plans - PDF
• Diabetes Medical Management Plans (pump) - PDF
• Diabetes Medical Management Plans (injection) - PDF

Students may possess and self-administer approved emergency medications, including asthma rescue inhalers and epinephrine auto-injectors, when approved for self-carry under a completed Action Plan on file with the school health office.

The District maintains standing orders from its medical director for select over-the-counter medications, including:

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
• Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil)
• Calcium Carbonate (Tums)
• Cetirizine (Zyrtec)

Parent/guardian authorization may be provided through SchoolCare during annual enrollment, by completing a Health History form (PDF), or by submitting an OTC Medication Authorization Form (PDF). These over-the-counter (OTC) medications are administered according to manufacturer recommendations unless otherwise directed by the District’s medical director.

All other over-the-counter medications, including cough drops, must be provided in their original manufacturer packaging, labeled with the student's name, and accompanied by the appropriate parent/guardian authorization. Medications must not be expired and must meet district requirements for administration at school.

• Elementary students
  • May not self-carry or self-administer OTC medications at school.
• Middle school students
  • May self-administer OTC medications only if:
    • The medication is in the original, manufacturer-labeled container
    • Only the amount needed for that school day is brought to school
    • The medication is used only by the student it is intended for
    • Medications may not be shared with other students
• High school students
  • May self-administer OTC medications if:
    • The medication is in the original, manufacturer-labeled container
    • The medication is used only by the student it is intended for
    • Medications may not be shared with other students

• Medications brought to school are for individual student use only
• Students may not share, give, or take medication from another student
• Medication misuse or sharing may result in loss of self-carry/self-administration privileges and parent/guardian notification in accordance with district student conduct expectations

Herbs, vitamins, dietary supplements, homeopathic medicines, and other “natural” or alternative remedies are not administered by school staff unless all required medical and legal documentation is in place.

In accordance with the Alaska Nurse Practice Act (12 AAC 44) and safe medication administration standards, school nurses and trained health personnel may only administer medications that are properly prescribed and documented to ensure student safety, appropriate dosing, and clinical oversight.

These products will only be considered for administration at school when the following are provided:

• A written order from a healthcare provider licensed in the State of Alaska and authorized to prescribe medication
• Documentation identifying the medical condition or health need being treated
• All required district medication authorization forms completed and on file

If these requirements are not met, these items may not be administered by school health staff during the school day.