Supporting Students with Food Allergies

Students may be exposed to allergens in the classroom, cafeteria, or playground.  Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction which occurs quickly after exposure to an allergen 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.

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 qualifies as a professional development activity for the renewal of educator licenses, in addition to activities approved by local professional development committees. 

Epinephrine Autoinjector 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 autoinjectors, 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 autoinjectors 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 autoinjectors and the dosages of epinephrine to be administered through them.

Ohio law for city exempted village, joint vocational school district, chartered or nonchartered nonpublic, community, STEM, and college prep boarding schools include the required components of the policy. A school may accept donations of epinephrine autoinjectors from a wholesale distributor or a manufacturer and may accept donations of money from any person to purchase them.

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. 

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 autoinjector to treat anaphylaxis if the following conditions are met:

• The student has written approval from a physician 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.

Reporting

Ohio law requires a city, local, exempted village, joint vocational school district, chartered or nonchartered nonpublic, community, STEM, or college prep boarding school that elects to procure epinephrine autoinjectors 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: 

• Epipen4Schools (free for schools) 
• Auvi-Q (reduced-cost for schools)
• Medication assistance programs list- Asthma and Allergy Foundation of American

Allergy Resources for Schools

The following resources can assist school staff with food allergy policy development, implementation and evaluation to support students with food-based allergies.

• 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 

Last Modified: 1/14/2026 8:35:24 AM

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