5141.25(a)

Students

Students with Special Health Care Needs

Accommodating Students with Special Dietary Needs

The Board of Education believes all students, through necessary accommodations where required, shall have the opportunity to participate fully in all school programs and activities.

In some cases, a student’s disability may prevent him/her from eating snacks and/or meals prepared for the general school population or in individual classrooms.

A statement signed by a licensed physician shall specifically describe the nature of the student’s disability.  The reason the disability prevents the student from eating a normal diet, including foods prohibited in the student’s diet.

The Board recognizes that students with documented life-threatening food allergies are considered disabled and are covered by The Disabilities Act and Public Law 93-112 and Section 504 of The Rehabilitation Act of 1973. A clearly-defined “504 Accommodation Plan” shall be developed and implemented for all such identified students in which necessary accommodations are made to ensure full participation in student activities. Such plan shall be signed by the appropriate staff, the parent/guardian of the student and the student’s physician.

The school is responsible for developing and implementing guidelines for the care of food-allergic students. Such guidelines shall include, but not be limited to, staff development, strategies for identifying students at risk for life-threatening allergic reactions, means to manage the student’s allergy including avoidance measures, designation of typical symptoms and dosing instructions for medications.

(cf. 5141 Student Health Services)

(cf. 5141.21 Administering Medication)

(cf. 5141.23 Students With Special Health Care Needs)

(cf. 5141.3 Health Assessments)

(cf. 5145.4 Nondiscrimination)

5141.25(b)

Students

Students with Special Health Care Needs (continued)

Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes

10-15b Access of parent or guardian to student’s records.

10-154a Professional communications between teacher or nurse and student.

10-207 Duties of medical advisors.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

Americans With Disabilities Act

FCS Instruction783-2, Revision 2, Meal substitution for medical or other special dietary reasons.