Managing Student Food Allergies

The risk of accidental exposure to allergy-inducing foods can be reduced in the school setting if schools work with students, parents, and physicians to minimize risks and provide a safe educational environment for food-allergic students. National guidelines encourage a cooperative relationship among students, parents, and staff to make sure that a safe environment exists for all food-allergic students.

Expectations for Schools’ Responsibility

The following guidelines apply to staff in the Naugatuck Public Schools. Although schools cannot guarantee an allergy-free environment, the school principal and nursing staff should:

1. be knowledgeable about and follow applicable federal laws, including ADA, IDEA, Section 504, and FERPA and any state laws or district policies that apply;
2. review student health records submitted by parents and physicians;
3. develop and implement a School Health Care Plan for an individual food-allergic student on the basis of need as determined by the school nurse.
4. avoid excluding students from school activities solely based on their food allergy;
5. identify a core team that may include school nurse, teacher, principal, school food services and nutrition manager / director, and counselor (if available) to work with parents and the student (age appropriate) to implement and individual School Health Care Plan and to communicate that plan to all involved;
6. participate (core team) in changes made to the prevention plan to promote food allergy management;

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7. ensure that all personnel, including substitute teachers and student teachers, who interact with the student on a regular basis, understand food allergy management, can recognize symptoms, know how to respond in an emergency, and work with other school staff to eliminate the use of food allergens in the allergic student’s meals, educational tools, arts and crafts projects, or incentives;
8. practice the approved Food Allergy Action Plans specific to the school site at the beginning of the school year to assure the efficiency / effectiveness of the plans;
9. coordinate all student activities with the school nurse to ensure that medications are appropriately stored, and that an emergency kit is available that contains a physician’s standing order for medication and store the medications in an easily accessible but secure location, central to designated school personnel;
10. designate school personnel who are properly trained to administer medications in accordance with the State Nursing and Good Samaritan Laws governing the administration of emergency medications and provide training on a regular basis;
11. ensure that there is a staff member available who is properly trained to administer medications during the school day, regardless of time or location;
12. review policies and the School Health Care Plan with the core team members, parents / guardians, student (age appropriate) after a reaction has occurred;
13. communicate this food allergy policy at the beginning of each school year to all parents via the Naugatuck Public Schools’ website.
14. encourage a “no eating” policy for birthdays and similar spontaneous celebrations in the school setting to ensure adequate opportunity for planning and notification of parents of food-allergic students, thus providing a safer environment for food-allergic students. A list of alternative activities will be provided at the beginning of each school year;
15. collaborate with the district transportation administrator to assure that school bus driver training includes symptom awareness and the knowledge of what to do if a reaction occurs;
16. develop and implement an emergency plan for food-allergic students on school buses which includes the student’s photo to be given to EMT / first responder;

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17. require that all buses have communication devices in case of an emergency;
18. enforce a “no eating” policy on school buses with exceptions made only to accommodate students involved in field trips or after school activities or special needs students under federal or similar laws, or school district policy;
19. develop / discuss appropriate management of food allergy with family;
20. discuss field trips with the family of the food-allergic student to decide appropriate strategies for managing food allergy including procedures for handling emergencies;
21. follow federal / state district laws and regulations regarding sharing medical information about the student; and
22. be aware of and respond accordingly to threats or harassment against an allergic child ad take proactive steps to prevent such unacceptable behavior.

Expectations for Family’s Responsibility

The Board of Education encourages families to adhere to the following guidelines for managing food allergies in the school setting:

1. notify the school of the child’s allergies;
2. provide to the school nurse documentation confirming the basis for food allergy diagnosis and the degree of reaction, i.e. blood tests (RAST), skin tests, or history of a reaction requiring treatment by a health care provider;
3. work with the school team to develop a plan that accommodates the child’s needs throughout the school including in the classroom, in the cafeteria, in after-care programs, during school-sponsored activities, and on the school bus, as well as a Food Allergy Action Plan;
4. provide written medical documentation, instructions, and medications as directed by a physician, using the Food Allergy Action Plan as a guide;
5. include a photo of the child on written “Medical Treatment Plan” form;

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6. replace medications after use, upon expiration, or upon notification from nurse;
7. educate the child in the self-management of his / her food allergy including safe and unsafe foods, strategies for avoiding exposure to unsafe foods, symptoms of allergic reactions, how and when to tell an adult that he / she may be having an allergy-related problem, how to read food labels (age appropriate);
8. review policies and the School Health Care Plan with the core team members, parents / guardians, student (age appropriate), after a reaction has occurred;
9. cooperate with school team to implement a student’s individual health care plan.

Expectations for Student’s Responsibility

The Board of Education encourages students to adhere to the following guidelines for managing food allergies in the school setting:

1. not trade food with others;
2. not eat anything without a labeled ingredient statement or known to contain any allergen or without parental permission;
3. be proactive in the care and management of their food allergies and reactions, based on their developmental level;
4. notify an adult immediately if they eat, contact, or become exposed to something they believe may contain the food to which they are allergic or are experiencing any symptoms;
5. carry and self-administer, if age appropriate and prescribed by doctor, epinephrine.

Date of Adoption: July 1, 2006

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