Background
The District supports the inclusion, participation, health, safety and well-being of all students who require health-related supports while attending school or participating in school activities.
The District recognizes that the management of a student’s health condition is a shared responsibility involving students, parents/guardians, health-care providers, community partners, and school personnel.
Medical diagnosis, treatment, and health-care decisions remain the responsibility of parents/guardians and qualified health-care professionals.
Public health concerns affecting students and schools will be addressed in accordance with current guidance from public health authorities and applicable provincial requirements.
School staff provide health-related support within their educational role, training, authority, and District procedures.
Anaphylaxis-specific requirements are addressed in AP 317 – Anaphylaxis.
Procedures
- Notification of Health Needs
Parents/guardians are responsible for informing the school when a student has:
- A medical condition
- A chronic health condition
- A life-threatening allergy
- Diabetes
- A seizure disorder
- Head lice
- A condition requiring medication
- Any other health need that may affect participation in school activities
- Individual Health Support Planning
When a student requires health-related support that may involve emergency procedures, medication requirements, self-management supports, field trip or school activity considerations, specialized health procedures or communication requirements, an individual health support plan shall be developed in collaboration with:
- Parents/guardians
- The student, where appropriate
- School staff
- Health-care professionals
- Community support providers, where appropriate.
- Health support plans should identify the responsibilities of those involved and any training, medication, equipment, communication, or emergency response requirements necessary to support the student safely at school and during school activities.
- Parent/Guardian Responsibilities
Parents/guardians should provide all student health care information at registration and at the beginning of each school year, when a student is newly diagnosed with a medical condition, and whenever there is a significant change in the student’s health needs, medication, supplies, equipment, or care plan.
Parents/guardians are responsible for:
- Providing current health information;
- Providing required consent and documentation;
- Providing medication and supplies and equipment in appropriate original or labelled containers;
- Replacing expired medications, supplies and equipment;
- Notifying the school of changes to health needs;
- Participating in plan development and review.
- Student Responsibilities
Students will be encouraged and supported to assume increasing responsibility for managing their own health needs, as appropriate, and consistent with their age, developmental level, strengths, abilities and medical advice. The District recognizes that students may demonstrate independence and self-management in different ways and may require varying levels of support.
- School Responsibilities
The Principal and appropriate staff shall:
a. Notify the appropriate school district personnel, parent/guardians and other relevant professionals to coordinate and organize required health care training;
b. Coordinate health support planning for students who require health-related support during the school day or while participating in school activities;
c. Collaborate with appropriate district inclusive education specialist staff and health care professionals regarding the provision of additional supports during the school day;
d. Ensure that relevant staff are informed of student health needs on a need-to- know basis and in accordance with applicable privacy requirements;
e. Maintain appropriate records and documentation related to student health supports;
f. Ensure that student health plans, required medication, supplies and equipment are considered when students participate in field trips, extracurricular activities and other school-sponsored activities; and
g. Support emergency preparedness and response procedures for students with identified health needs.
- Medication Administration
Medication may be administered or supported at school when required documentation and parent/guardian consent have been provided, and appropriate procedures have been established.
Where medication administration is required during the school day, the Principal, in collaboration with parents/guardians, health-care professionals, and appropriate district staff, shall ensure that appropriate procedures, supports, and personnel are in place to support the safe administration of:
a. Medication storage and security;
b. Medication administration and monitoring, where required;
c. Documentation and record keeping;
d. Communication with parents/guardians regarding changes or concerns; and
e. Student self-administration, where appropriate and supported by parent/guardian and health-care provider guidance.
Where a student receives health-related support from a nurse, health-care professional, or other external service provider during the school day, the Principal shall ensure that roles, responsibilities, communication protocols, and expectations regarding the handling, storage, security, use, and disposal of medications, supplies, equipment, and related documentation are clearly established and understood by all parties.
- Emergency Health Needs
Schools shall maintain emergency response procedures for students with health conditions that may require urgent intervention.
Emergency planning may include, but is not limited to:
a. Life-threatening allergies and anaphylaxis;
b. Diabetes;
c. Seizure disorders;
d. Asthma; and
e. Other significant health conditions requiring emergency response procedures.
Emergency response plans shall be developed and reviewed in collaboration with parents/guardians and, where appropriate, health-care professionals.
Requirements relating specifically to life-threatening allergies and anaphylaxis are addressed in AP 317 – Anaphylaxis.
Unexpected health emergencies that are not addressed through an individual student health support plan are addressed through applicable District emergency procedures.
- Training/Awareness
The District relies on the direction and recommendations of qualified health-care professionals in the development of individual health support plans and medical procedures. School staff support the implementation of approved plans within their role, training, authority and scope of practice.
Where school staff are designated to perform complex health procedures, appropriate training and, where required, supervision shall be provided by qualified health-care professionals in accordance with applicable provincial requirements.
A staff training process for annual review of anaphylactic emergency response procedures for students is to be completed in accordance with individual medical plans, parents/guardians, and AP 317.
- Privacy and Information Sharing
Student health information will be collected, used, disclosed, and stored in accordance with applicable privacy legislation and District procedures.
Information will be shared only with individuals who require it to support the student’s safety, well-being, participation in education programs, and implementation of health support plans.
- Head Lice (Pediculosis)
a. Head lice are a common condition and do not spread disease. Students shall not be excluded from school or school activities solely because head lice are suspected or confirmed.
b. When a school becomes aware that a student may have head lice, the parent/guardian shall be informed discreetly. The student may remain at school and continue to participate in school activities.
c. Parents/guardians are responsible for checking for and treating head lice. Families will be encouraged to begin appropriate treatment promptly when live lice are identified and to follow current guidance provided by public health authorities.
d. Where appropriate, the school may provide general information to families who may have been affected while maintaining the privacy of individual students.
e. Schools shall rely on current public health guidance regarding the identification, management and treatment of head lice rather than establishing District-specific clinical treatment protocols.
- Public Health Guidance
Health conditions and public health concerns affecting students shall be managed in accordance with current guidance from public health authorities and applicable provincial requirements.
The District will work collaboratively with families, health-care providers, and public health partners to support student health, safety, well-being, and access to educational programs.
- Community and Health-Care Partners
External health-care providers and community service agencies delivering services within schools remain responsible for their own professional practice, regulatory obligations, and organizational policies, while complying with District expectations regarding safety, privacy, security, communication, documentation, and the use of school facilities.
- Review of Health Support Plans
Individual health support plans shall be reviewed:
a. Annually;
b. When there is a significant change in the student’s health needs;
c. Following a health-related incident or emergency response, where appropriate; or
d. At any other time deemed necessary by the Principal, parent/guardian, or health-care provider.
September 2026