New Jersey School Districts By: Josefa Olson

Montclair Public Schools  Comprehensive community public school district that serves students in Kindergarten through twelfth grade.  Consists of seven elementary schools, three middle schools and one high school.  The district’s 11 schools had a enrollment of 6,625 students.

Mission  The Montclair Public School District is dedicated to creating a culture of learning and continuous improvement that provides every child with a high quality, rich and rigorous education, through a magnet system of integrated schools in which every school represents a strong, diverse and vibrant community of learners.

Philosophy  An integral part in the concept of “Coordinated School Health” which encompasses the integration of the following eight components and is considered a “Best Practices” model for comprehensive school health services.  Health Education  Physical Education  Health Services  Nutrition Services  Counseling and Psychological Services  Healthy School Environment  Health promotion for Staff  Family/Community Involvement

Policy – Administering Medication  The administration of medication to a pupil during school hours will be permitted only when failure to take such medicine would jeopardize the health of the pupil, or the pupil would not be able to attend school if the medicine were not made available to him/her during school hours.  Before any medication may be administered to or by any pupil during school hours, the board shall require the written request of the parent/guardian or adult pupil which shall give permission for such administration and relieve the board and its employees of liability for administration of medication.  For the purpose of this policy, “medication” shall include all medicines prescribed by a physician for the particular pupil, including emergency medication in the event of bee stings, etc., and all non prescription “over the counter” medication.

Montclair Policy  Each school in the district shall have and maintain at least one nebulizer in the office of the school nurse. The board shall adapt the regulations on the administration of asthma medication through the use of a nebulizer by the school nurse.  The board shall permit self administration of medication for asthma or other potentially life-threatening illnesses by pupils both on school premises during regular school hours and off-site and after regular school hours when a pupil is participating in field trips or extracurricular activities.  The board shall permit self administration of medication when parent provide written certification from the pupil’s physician that the pupil has asthma or another potentially life- threatening illness and is capable of and has been instructed in the proper method of self administration of medication.

Montclair Policy  Each school in the district shall have and maintain at least one nebulizer in the office of the school nurse. Regulations shall be in accord with New Jersey statute and administrative code and shall include the requirement that each school nurse shall be authorized to administer asthma medication through the use of a nebulizer.

Clifton School District  Is a comprehensive community public school district that serves students in kindergarten through 12 th grade from Clifton, in Passaic County, New Jersey.  They have 14 schools from K through 5 th grade, 2 schools from 6 th through 8 th, and one High school from 9 th through 12 th.  The district had an enrollment of 10,992 students as of

Philosophy  We believe that it is the inherent right of every child enrolled in the public school to receive a sound education rooted in equal opportunity and delivered in an environment, which ensures physicals and mental security. In todays pluralistic technological society, our first and foremost task is to instruct students in democratic principles found within the ethical framework of the constitutions of the United States and the State of New Jersey.

Goals ( school year) 1. Student Achievement : To develop, support, and ensure student success across content areas and grade spans in a 21 st - global environment. Objective: Bridge community and grades span gaps by exploring and implementing a socially responsible program and expanding education beyond the schools.

New Jersey State Board of Education Administrative Code N.J.A.C. 6A: (2001) states that each district board of education shall approve written policies and programs governing school functions, which includes the administration of medications to students under a physician's order and emergency administration of epinephrine to a student for anaphylaxis. It further requires each district board of education to develop and adopt written administration of medication policies and procedures in consultation with a school physician. New Jersey Administrative Code N.J.A.C. 6A:16-2.1(a) 2 authorizes only the school physician, a certified or non- certified school nurse, a substitute school nurse, the student's parent or guardian, and the student (if approved to self-administer) to administer medication.

Administering Medication  The administration of medication will be permitted only when failure to take such medication would jeopardize the health of the pupil, or would not be able to attend school if the medicine were not made available to him/her during school hours.  Before any medication may be administered to or by any pupil during school hours, parents are required to submit a written request for such medication and relieve the Board of Education and its employees of liability for actions related to the administration of medication.  The school nurse cannot and will not administer medication without written physician’s orders.  All prescription must be in an original containers as dispensed by a registered pharmacist.

Administering Medication  All over the counter medication must be in an original container with the medication label and the name of the student affixed to the container.  The Board shall permit self-administration for asthma or other potentially life-threatening illnesses by pupils in grades 3 through 12 th, both on school premises during regular school hours and off-site or after regular school hours when a pupil is participating in field trips or extra curricular activities.  The medication form for self administration must be completed and signed by the parent and the doctor for the student to self- administer the appropriate medication.

Comparison  Both Districts have their own policy but I noticed that they are almost the same except the Montclair district have a nebulizer machine available in the nurses office when administering asthma medication.

New Law: Allergy Treatment in Schools  The Bill, A304/ S801 – authorizes school nurses and trained personnel to administer epinephrine to any student having an anaphylactic reaction. Advantages: 1. Schools should be able to respond quickly and appropriately to help children with a serious allergic reaction. 2. This helps those children who have no epinephrine prescribed specifically for them.

New Law  Requires that schools maintain a supply of epinephrine auto-injectors, and amends current law to provide immunity to school employees and agents for good faith acts or omissions concerning the emergency administration of epinephrine to specifically include a physician providing a prescription under a standing protocol for school epinephrine.  This bill signed by Governor Christie is not been implemented in both district. By having available epinephrine at schools will increase access to life saving medicine for children with severe allergies.