Health Services

• State of LA Medication Order Form
• JP Schools Parent Consent for Medications
• Authorization for Release of Information

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Stock Epinephrine Auto Injector Policy

Jefferson Parish Schools will make every effort to provide at least two (2) doses of auto-injectable epinephrine (hereinafter called ‘unassigned or stock epinephrine’) in each school, under the standing order of a Louisiana licensed physician, to assist those students who experience an anaphylactic emergency for the first time, without prescribed treatment. The stock epinephrine may be administered by a school nurse or employee of the school board who is authorized and trained in the administration of epinephrine to any student who, in good faith, is believed to be having an anaphylactic reaction on school premises, during the academic day. This policy is not intended to replace or override student-specific orders or currently prescribed medications for anaphylaxis. This policy does not extend to activities off school grounds (including transportation to and from school, field trips) or outside the academic day, such as sporting events or extracurricular activities.

Students at High Risk for Anaphylaxis

Jefferson Parish Schools shall allow a supply of auto-injectable epinephrine to be maintained in a secure location in each classroom assigned to a student who is deemed by his/her physician to be at high risk for anaphylactic reaction and incapable of self-administration of auto-injectable epinephrine. The parent/legal guardian will be responsible for providing the school in which the student is enrolled with the supply of auto-injectable epinephrine to be kept in each classroom, written authorization from a Louisiana licensed medical provider, written certification from the licensed medical physician or other authorized prescriber that the student is at high risk of having anaphylaxis and is not capable of self-administration of auto-injectable epinephrine, and a written treatment plan for managing anaphylactic episodes from a licensed 
medical provider.  

It is the parent's/guardian's responsibility to inform the school nurse about their child's health conditions (i.e., asthma, diabetes, ADHD, seizures, heart problems, sickle cell anemia, etc.) by completing the JPS Health Information Form or by scheduling a health conference with the School Nurse.

If the student requires special health accommodations or procedures during the school day (i.e., blood sugar checks, catheterization, tracheostomy care, g-tube feedings, etc.), a State of Louisiana Physician’s Authorization for Specialized Care form must be completed by a Louisiana licensed physician  and submitted to the school nurse.
In order for the school to send or receive information to or from the physician or school outside of JP Schools, the parent must complete a Release of Information Form.
It is the parent’s responsibility to provide all required equipment and supplies for the medical procedures performed at school.

Applicable forms that may be needed can be downloaded and printed by clicking on the link below:

• Physicians Authorization for Special Healthcare Form
• Release of Info Form
• Diabetic Order Form
• Emergency Seizure Medication Order Form (Diastat, Valtoco, Nayzilam)

In accordance with Louisiana law, all students registering at a Jefferson Parish School must be immunized according to the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals Office of Public Health Immunization Schedule. A State of Louisiana Universal Certificate of Immunization is required to verify immunizations and to complete the registration process. 

Parent or guardian may dissent from the immunization requirements for their child due to medical, religious, or philosophical reasons by completing a Statement of Dissent from Immunizations WITH the school nurse. In the event of an outbreak of a vaccine-preventable disease at the location of the educational institution or facility the student attends, the administrators of the educational institution or facility, upon the recommendation of the office of public health, may exclude the student from attendance until the incubation period has expired, or evidence of immunization is presented.

Immunization Resources:

• CDC Immunization Schedules
• LA Department of Health Immunizations
• Children's Hospital Immunization Program
  • Care Mobile Schedule/Monthly Immunization Clinic Information
• MyIR Mobile (Immunization Records)

The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) Medicaid program allows school districts to request reimbursement for costs associated with provision of certain IEP and IHP related services to students insured with Medicaid. These services include occupational and physical therapy, speech pathology, behavioral health services, nursing services, and special transportation. Schools are required to provide notice and to obtain consent from a parent before accessing a child’s Medicaid benefits and sharing personally identifiable information related to Medicaid. Jefferson Parish Schools seek parental consent from every student in order to access this reimbursement. Parents have the right to deny or withdraw this consent at any time without penalty to the services rendered in school. 

Medicaid Consent

موافقة مديكيد

Consentimiento de Medicaid  

Chấp thuận Medicaid

• When a student has a minor illness or injury, the School Nurse or a unlicensed trained JP Schools employee will provide first-aid and notify the parent/legal guardian.  
• If the student has a life-threatening illness or injury, 911 will be called, and the school will contact a parent immediately.  
• All parents/guardians are asked to complete or update the Student Emergency Card every year, with their current phone and address information, in order for school staff to contact the parent/guardian in the event of a medical emergency or illness.

Students with food allergies or special dietary needs should submit a Medical Statement to Request School Meal Modification completed by a Louisiana licensed physician to the school nurse.

The following form is required to be completed by the physician annually for a student's diet to be modified:

• Meal Modification Form 2024-25

JP Schools School Nurses conduct routine vision and hearing screenings every year for all students in Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th grades.  Students in other grades may also be screened at the request of a parent or school staff, if a problem is suspected, or if they are being evaluated for special education services.

If a student fails his/her vision or hearing screening, the nurse will send  a letter to the parent/guardian. Evaluation by a LA licensed eye doctor/audiologist is strongly encouraged for all screening failures.

A copy of the doctor’s evaluation or prescription should be returned to the School Nurse.

Anaphylaxis is a severe systemic allergic reaction from exposure to allergens that is rapid in onset and can cause death. Parents of students with known life-threatening allergies and/or anaphylaxis are encouraged to notify the School Nurse and should provide the school with written instructions and prescribed medications from the student’s health care provider for handling anaphylaxis on an annual basis.

In order to comply with Louisiana state legislation R.S. 17:436.1 (K), it is the policy of Jefferson Parish Schools to follow the guidelines developed for students with an identified severe allergy to food, insect stings, latex, and/or unknown allergens, in addition to those who may have not yet had an identified allergy or condition which puts them at risk of experiencing an unexpected event that is at a potential risk of a life-threatening reaction (anaphylaxis).

These guidelines include:

1. Education and Training for school personnel on the management of students with life-threatening severe allergies, including training related to the administration of medication with a cartridge injector.
2. Procedures for responding to known and unknown life-threatening allergic reactions.
3. A process for managing students at high risk of anaphylaxis.
4. Protocols to prevent exposure to food allergens or precautions to avoid exposure to other allergens.

Jefferson Parish Schools has updated guidance for individuals who test positive for COVID-19.  These changes were made in response to new guidelines  issued by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in March 2024. COVID-19 remains an important public health threat, but is no longer the emergency that it once was. The safety precautions for COVID-19 are similar to those of other common respiratory viruses. With that being said, the CDC converted their virus-specific COVID-19 guidance to Respiratory Virus guidance for people with COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and influenza.

In alignment with CDC recommendations, the new JP Schools guidelines include the following:

• Individuals that test positive for COVID-19 should notify the school principal, the school nurse and/or their immediate supervisor.  This information will  continue to be recorded in the JP Schools COVID-19 tracking system.

• Individuals that test positive for COVID-19, influenza, and/or RSV are isolated at home until symptoms including, but not limited to: chills, fatigue, persistent cough, runny nose, and headache have improved. The person is also required to be without a fever for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing medication.

• The guidance no longer recommends a minimum isolation period of five days for COVID-19. 

• Depending on the length and severity of symptoms, this “stay at home” period could be shorter, the same, or longer than the previous guidance for COVID-19. 

• Upon returning to work or school, additional precautions are recommended for the next five days to reduce the risk of transmission. These safety precautions include wearing a well-fitting mask, physical distancing from others when possible, regular cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched areas, frequent handwashing, and getting tested for respiratory viruses if symptoms reoccur.

Below is a helpful link from the CDC:
CDC Guidance on Preventing the Spread of Respiratory Viruses When You’re Sick