Policy 3411 - Accommodating Students With Seizure Disorders Or Epilepsy

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. The health plans will be updated annually at a minimum 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 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 request 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; 
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; 
6. Ensure the possession of legal documents for parent-designated adults to provide care, if needed; 
7. Ensure each individual health plan is updated at least annually; and 
8. Ensure each student’s individual health care plan will be distributed to appropriate staff based on the students’ needs and the staff member’s contact with the student. 

Parents 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 request, school district employees may volunteer to be a parent-designated adult under this policy, but they will not be required to participate. 

Parents/guardians may assign a parent-designated adult to care for their student. 

A parent-designated adult means an adult who is authorized by the parents of a student with adrenal insufficiency to provide care for the child consistent with the student’s individual health plan, volunteers to do so, receives additional training selected by the parents, and provides care to the student consistent with their individual health plan. A parent-designated adult may be a district employee. 

A parent-designated adult must complete training selected by the student’s parents/guardians in the proper procedures to care for the student, including administering an emergency injection of corticosteroid during an adrenal crisis, consistent with the student’s individual health plan. The training may be provided by an organization that offers training for staff caring for students with adrenal insufficiency or for caretakers of children with adrenal insufficiency. 

For a district employee who isn’t licensed under chapter 18.79 RCW to be a parent-designated adult, they must voluntarily file a written, current, and unexpired letter of intent stating their willingness to be a parent-designated adult. If an employee who isn’t licensed under chapter 18.79 RCW chooses not to file such a letter, the employee may not be subject to reprisal or discipline for refusing to file it. 

The district will collect and store legal documents for the parent-designated adult to provide care if necessary. 

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.210.355. 

Legal References:

Adoption: