For the safety of students, it is recommended that medication be given at home whenever possible. For example, medication prescribed three times a day can be given before school, after school and at bedtime. 

If medication must be given during school hours, we want you to be aware of the following school medication policy: 

1. School personnel can only give medication with the written order of a health care provider that is licensed to prescribe and the written consent of a parent/guardian. 

2. Medication must be brought to school in a container labeled by the pharmacy. 

3. Ask the pharmacist to put the medication in two containers, one for school and one for home.

4. Medications should be brought to school by a parent/guardian or a responsible adult.

5. A new medication consent form is required:

• When the dosage or time of administration is changed

• At the beginning of each school year

• If discontinued medication is restarted

6. Parent/guardian must notify the school in writing when the medication is discontinued.

7. Secondary students may self-administer non-prescription pain medication that does NOT contain ephedrine if the parent submits written authorization annually and the medication is brought to school in a properly labeled bottle. 

8. Students can carry medicine with them (for example, an asthma rescue inhaler) if they have written consent from parent/guardian and health care provider, and the school nurse has met with the student and checked that they can safely and successfully carry their own medicine.

Please visit the Minnesota Department of Health website for all detailed information: www.health.state.mn.us/people/immunize