School Medications: What Parents and Teachers Need to Know

When a child needs medication during school hours, it’s not just a medical issue—it’s a logistical, legal, and emotional one too. School medications, prescriptions given to students during school hours under supervision. Also known as student medications, they include everything from ADHD pills to insulin shots, and their safe use depends on clear rules, trained staff, and open communication between home and school. Many parents assume the school nurse handles everything, but that’s not always true. In fact, in most U.S. schools, only licensed nurses can administer certain drugs, and even then, they need written permission from a doctor and the parent. Without that paperwork, a child might miss a dose—or worse, get one they shouldn’t.

ADHD medications, stimulants like methylphenidate or amphetamines prescribed to help children focus in class. Also known as concentration aids for students, are among the most common school medications. But they’re also among the most misunderstood. Some teachers think these drugs are just for behavior control, when in reality, they help with attention, impulse control, and task completion. And while they’re generally safe, they need to be timed right—morning doses, for example, shouldn’t be delayed, or the child may crash after lunch. Parents often don’t realize that schools require a specific form from the prescribing doctor, and that the medication must be in the original pharmacy bottle with the child’s name on it. No Ziploc bags. No unlabeled pills. No exceptions.

Then there’s insulin, a life-saving hormone for children with type 1 diabetes. Also known as diabetes treatment at school, it’s another critical school medication. These kids need blood sugar checks and insulin shots multiple times a day. Schools that don’t have a nurse on site are legally required to train a staff member to help—but that doesn’t always happen. And if a child has an allergic reaction to an antibiotic or an asthma inhaler, who gives the epinephrine? The school nurse? A teacher? A volunteer? The answer should be clear before the first day of class. That’s why every child with a chronic condition should have a written Individualized Healthcare Plan (IHP) and a backup plan in case the nurse is out sick.

What’s missing from most school medication policies? Training. Not just for nurses, but for teachers, aides, and even bus drivers. A kid with epilepsy might need a rescue med during a seizure. A child with severe allergies might need an EpiPen before paramedics arrive. And if a student is on antidepressants like sertraline or fluoxetine, who notices if they suddenly stop taking it? Schools often focus on the physical meds—pills, shots, inhalers—but forget the mental health ones. That’s a gap. And it’s dangerous.

Below, you’ll find real-world guides on how medications work in schools, what to do when things go wrong, how to talk to teachers about your child’s needs, and how to spot when a drug isn’t being handled right. Whether you’re a parent, a teacher, or a school staff member, these articles give you the facts—not the fluff—so you can protect kids and make sure they get the care they need, right on time.