Policy Details Page

Policy 3411
Students

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PURPOSE: The District will develop and follow an individual health plan for each student with seizure disorder or epilepsy. Each individual health care plan will include an individual emergency plan element if needed. The health plans will be updated annually, and more frequently as needed.

The Board of Directors shall designate a professional person licensed under chapter 18.71, 18.57, or 18.79 RCW as it applies to registered nurses and advanced registered nurse practitioners, to consult and coordinate with the student's parents/or guardians and health care provider, and train and supervise the appropriate school district personnel in proper procedures for care for students with epilepsy or other seizure disorders to ensure a safe, therapeutic learning environment. Training required may also be provided by a national organization that offers training for school nurses for managing students with seizures and seizure training for school personnel.

In addition to adhering to the requirements of each individual health care plan, for the general care of students with seizure disorder or epilepsy, the District will:

1. Acquire necessary parent/or guardian requests and instructions for treatment;
2. Acquire monitoring and treatment orders from licensed health care providers prescribing within the scope of their licensed authority;
3. Provide sufficient and secure storage for medical equipment and medication provided by the parent, if needed;
4. Establish school policy exceptions necessary to accommodate students' needs related to epilepsy or other seizure disorders, as described in the individual health plan;
5. Ensure the development of individual emergency plans if needed;
6. Ensure the possession of legal documents for parent-designated adults to provide care, if needed;
7. Ensure each individual health plan is reviewed at least annually; and
8. Ensure each student’s individual health care plan will be distributed to appropriate staff based on the student’s needs and the staff member’s contact with the student.

Parents/or guardians of students with seizure disorders or epilepsy may designate an adult to provide care for their student consistent with the student’s individual health care plan. At parent/or guardian request, school district employees may volunteer to be a parent-designated adult under this policy, but they will not be required to participate.  A school nurse is not responsible for the supervision of procedures authorized by the parents/or guardians and carried-out by a parent-designated adult.

 "Parent-designated adult" means a parent-designated adult who is not licensed under chapter 18.79 and: (A) Volunteers for the designation; (B) receives additional training from a health care professional or expert in care for epilepsy or other seizure disorders selected by the parents; and (C) Provides care for the child consistent with the individual health plan.

 A parent-designated adult may be a school district employee. Parent-designated adults who are school employees will file a voluntary, written, current, and unexpired letter of intent stating their willingness to be a parent-designated adult. Parent-designated adults who are school employees are required to receive training in caring for students with seizures from the school nurse or from a parent-selected health care professional or appropriate personnel from an expert epilepsy organization that offers seizure training and education for school nurses and other school personnel. If a school district employee who is not licensed under chapter 18.79 RCW chooses not to file a letter under this section, the employee may not be subject to any employer reprisal or disciplinary action for refusing to file a letter.

Parent-designated adults who are not school employees are required to show evidence of comparable training and meet school district requirements for volunteers. Parent-designated adults must receive additional training from a parent/or guardian-selected health care professional or expert in seizure care to provide the care requested by the parent. The school nurse is not responsible for the supervision of procedures authorized by the parents/or guardians and carried out by the parent-designated adult.

The District will endeavor to eliminate stigma surrounding a student who may have a seizure or epilepsy disorder.  The school nurse or parent-designated adult may, depending on the student and parent/or guardian’s preference, help other students to understand how to be inclusive and supportive of students with seizure or epilepsy disorders. The District, its employees, agents, or parent-designated adults who act in good faith and in substantial compliance with a student’s individual health care plan and the instructions of the student’s health care provider will not be criminally or civilly liable for services provided under RCW 28A.210.330.

 

Cross References:

Policy 2162 – Education of Students With Disabilities Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

Policy 3416 – Med Medication at School

Policy 4131 – Volunteers

Legal References:

42 U.S.C. §§ 12101 et seq. Americans with Disabilities Act

RCW 28A.210.350 – Students with diabetes or epilepsy or other seizure disorders

Washington State Schools Directors’ Association (WSSDA) model Policy 3411 adopted with modifications

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Adoption Date: 12/09/2021