Medicine at School / Illness
Any prescription or over the counter medication that must be administered during school hours
should be accompanied by a written request from a parent/guardian. For student safety, all
medications should be transported to and from school by a parent/guardian. All medications must be
in their original, properly-labeled container. A physician's order must accompany any medication that
will be kept in the school clinic for more than ten consecutive days.
Parents/guardians are required to send a note for students who will not be participating in physical
education classes due to an illness or injury. This note will be accepted for up to five consecutive
days. Longer non-participation will require a physician's written excuse.
The 77th Texas Legislature enacted House Bill 1688, which amends the Education Code to entitle a
student with asthma to possess and self-administer prescription asthma medication while on school
property or at a school-related event or activity. The bill specified the conditions under which a
student is entitled to possess and self-administer asthma medication. If a physician feels it is
medically necessary for a student with asthma to carry and self-administer prescription asthma
medication, the student must have on file in the school nurse's office an Asthma Action Plan form
provided by the State of Texas. This form can be obtained from the school nurse. The Asthma Action
Plan must be filled out each year by the student's prescribing physician and must be signed by both
the prescribing physician and the parent.