Supporting Students with Food Allergies

When students have food allergies, it is essential for schools, families, and providers to collaborate to optimize student safety and wellness. Because allergens could be present in the classroom, cafeteria, or playground, a plan for prevention and response are crucial.
Anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction that occurs quickly after exposure to an allergen, is very serious and may include skin reactions, swelling of the tongue, difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, dizziness, or fainting. Schools can reduce the risk of anaphylaxis occurring at school by implementing policies and procedures that will limit the risk of students being exposed to the most common allergens. The Allergy and Asthma Network offers guidance for schools and guidance for families on managing allergies at school.
School nurses, families, students, providers, educators, and cafeteria personnel can work together to develop a plan to eliminate risk of exposure to the known allergen, ensure nutrition needs are met, and maintain clear, consistent communication pathways. When schools and families work together, they can effectively manage the food allergy emergency action or care plan and maximize student learning. The school cafeteria team can be included in the development of the plan to assure compliance and adherence to school’s food allergy policy and ensure student have safe and healthy options.

Food Allergy Policy 

Ohio law requires that each city, local, exempted village, and joint vocational school district, chartered nonpublic, community, and STEM school establish a written policy with respect to protecting students with food allergies. Schools shall develop the policy in consultation with parents, school nurses and other school employees, school volunteers, students, and community members.   
Further information on food allergy policy requirements can be found on the Department’s Food Allergy Policy Requirements and Guidance webpage.  

Training Staff and Students

Ohio law specifies that each school district board of education may create training for all staff members and age-appropriate instruction for students in grades kindergarten through 12 on food allergies and ways in which to assist an individual experiencing an allergic reaction. If a district board chooses to provide training to staff and students, the training may include instruction in food allergies, signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis, prevention of allergic reactions, management and administration of epinephrine, and follow-up and reporting procedures. 
Completed training may qualify as a professional development activity for the renewal of educator licenses, in addition to activities approved by local professional development committees. 

Epinephrine Procurement

In the event of a severe anaphylactic reaction, the medication epinephrine can save the life of a student or staff member. Ohio Law allows schools to purchase or procure stock epinephrine to be used in the event of an emergency. If a school or district chooses to procure epinephrine delivery systems, they must meet one of the conditions below.

• A licensed health professional authorized to prescribe drugs, in accordance with sections listed in Ohio law, personally furnishes the epinephrine delivery systems to the school or school district or issue a prescription for them in the name of the school or district.
• The district superintendent obtains a prescriber-issued protocol that includes definitive orders for epinephrine delivery systems and the dosages of epinephrine to be administered through them.

Ohio law requires schools and districts that elect to procure epinephrine delivery systems to develop a policy regarding its use. Ohio law for city exempted village, joint vocational school district, chartered or nonchartered nonpublic, community, and STEM schools include the required components of the policy. A school may accept donations of epinephrine delivery devices from a wholesale distributor or a manufacturer and may accept donations of money from any person to purchase them. Districts electing to procure epinephrine delivery systems are encouraged to maintain, at all times, at least two epinephrine delivery systems at each school operated by the district.
The Ohio Boad of Pharmacy issued an updated version of the Procurement of Epinephrine Autoinjectors by Schools, Camps, and Qualified Entities guidance. The guidance includes information about procuring epinephrine and reporting requirements. 
Note: epinephrine delivery system means any type of epinephrine delivery device approved by Ohio Pharmacy Board such as autoinjector or nasal spray types currently available.

Emergency Epinephrine- student possession

Ohio law allows for a student enrolled in a city, local, exempted village, or joint vocational school district, chartered nonpublic, community or STEM school to possess and use an epinephrine delivery system to treat anaphylaxis if the following conditions are met:

• The student has written approval from the prescriber of the delivery system and if student is a minor, written approval from parent, guardian or other person having care or charge of the student. The written approval shall include all required components listed in Ohio law.
• The school principal and, if a school nurse is assigned to the student's school building, the school nurse has received copies of the written approvals required by Ohio law.
• The school principal or, if a school nurse is assigned to the student’s school building, the school nurse has received a backup epinephrine delivery system from the parent, guardian, or other person having care or charge of the student, or if the student is not a minor, from the student.
• Whenever a student or staff member uses an epinephrine delivery system that was possessed by a student at school or at any activity or even or program sponsored by the school, the school employee shall immediately request assistance from emergency medical services.

Reporting

Ohio law requires a city, local, exempted village, joint vocational school district, chartered or nonchartered nonpublic, community, or STEM school that elects to procure epinephrine delivery systems to report to the Department each procurement and each occurrence in which a dose of the drug is used from a school's supply.

• Public and Community schools should report in their data collection system which uploads into the Department's Education Management Information System (EMIS). For more information on how to report in the system, contact the district's EMIS Coordinator or see section 5.3 of EMIS manual.
• Non-Public schools should report in the Nonpublic Schools Data System (NPDS). See Instructions for Reporting in NPDS for further information.

Free or Reduced-Cost Epinephrine Autoinjectors: 

The resources below offer free or reduced cost epinephrine for schools.

• Epipen4Schools 
• Auvi-Q 
• Neffy in Schools

Families may find resources and information on the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America's webpage.

Allergy Resources

Districts and schools may use the following resources to assist with food allergy policy development, implementation and evaluation to support students with food-based allergies.

Schools

• Sample School Anaphylaxis/Stock Epinephrine Emergency Action Plan
• Sample School Stock Epinephrine Autoinjector Policy
• GMAR Medication Administration, Inventory, and Incident Report Form
• Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plan
• Back to School with Food Allergies
• Food Allergy 101
• National Association for School Nurses: Allergy Forms, Policies & Checklists
• Section 504, Title II and Ensuring Protection of K-12 Students with Severe Allergies
• Section 504 Protections for Students with Food Allergies 

Families

Families may consider the following resources when working with schools to develop a food allergy action plan.

• Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plan
• Section 504 and Written Management Plans
• Food Allergy Management in Schools (FAMS): Expert Recommendations for K–12
• American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology Food Allergy Stages Handouts
• American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Planning for School with food allergies guidance for families

Last Modified: 8/4/2026 10:36:28 AM

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