In promoting a safe school environment for children with food allergies at-risk for anaphylaxis, students, parents, and school personnel should work as a team in identifying students at-risk for anaphylaxis, reducing the risk of exposure to food allergens and to react quickly should an exposure or allergic reaction occur. A food allergy is defined as a potentially serious immune-mediated response that develops after ingesting or coming into contact with specific foods or food additives. Symptoms of a food induced allergic reaction may range from mild to severe and may become life-threatening. Reactions vary with each person and each exposure to a food allergen and the severity of an allergic reaction is not predictable. Some students with food allergies have an anaphylactic response which is defined as a serious allergic reaction that is rapid in onset and may cause death. Anaphylaxis occurs within a few minutes to several hours after exposure to the allergen.

If your child has been diagnosed with a food allergy, please complete the following forms and turn them into the school nurse ASAP.

Parent Statement of Food Allergy Information-English and Spanish 

Parent Request for Allergen-Free Table

Medication Permission Form-English

Medication Permission Form-Spanish 

In promoting a safe school environment for children with food allergies at-risk for anaphylaxis, students, parents, and school personnel should work as a team in identifying students at-risk for anaphylaxis, reducing the risk of exposure to food allergens and to react quickly should an exposure or allergic reaction occur.

The responsibilities of the family include:

• Notifying the school of the student’s allergies in accordance with TEC, Section 25.022. Use of the GCISD Parent Statement of Food Allergy Information is the preferred method of notification.

• Working with the School Nurse (RN) to develop and review the FAAP/EAP and IHP as well as discuss accommodations the student will need throughout the school day, during school-sponsored activities, and on the school bus.

• Providing completed and signed GCISD medication authorization, Allergy Free Table form and Food Allergy Action Plan (signed by the physician) to the school nurse.

• Providing properly labeled medications and replace medications after use or upon expiration.

• Working with your child in the self-management of their food allergy including:

  • Safe and unsafe foods,

  • Strategies for avoiding exposure to unsafe foods,

  • Symptoms of allergic reactions,

  • How and when to tell and adult they may be having an allergy-related problem,

  • How to read food labels (age appropriate),

  • If age appropriate, the importance of carrying and administering their personal asthma and anaphylaxis medications as prescribed.

• Meeting with the school staff for post-exposure conference.

• Providing emergency contact information and update when needed.
  

• The responsibilities of the family for before/after school childcare at the school include:

  • Working with the EDP staff to develop and review the FAAP/EAP as well as discuss accommodations the student will need during the before/after school program.

  • Completing EDP medication authorization forms.

  • Providing properly labeled medications and replace medications after use or upon expiration.

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  The responsibilities of the student include:

  • No trading of food with others.

  • Not eating anything with unknown ingredients or known to contain any allergen.

  • Being proactive in the care and management of their food allergies and reactions (as developmentally appropriate).

  • Immediately notifying an adult if they eat something they believe may contain a food to which they are allergic.

Parent Notification of SB66:

The purpose of this notification is to inform parents/guardians that in accordance with Chapter 38, Subchapter E of the Texas Education Code, the Board of the Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District (GCISD) has adopted a policy to allow authorized and trained personnel to administer an epinephrine auto-injector to a person who is reasonably believed to be experiencing an anaphylactic reaction on a school campus.

Each campus will be supplied with stock epinephrine auto-injectors and standing orders from an advising physician to be used for cases of unsuspected anaphylaxis.

GCISD will ensure that a sufficient number of school personnel at each campus are trained to administer epinephrine so that at least one trained individual is present while the campus is open. For purposes of this policy, a campus is considered open beginning with the first hour of instruction through the last hour of instruction. See Board Policy FFAC (Local). Mylan will fund the program through Epipen4schools. If funding from an outside source ceases, the implementation of Stock Epinephrine Auto-Injectors will be re-evaluated by GCISD.

Parents of students with known life-threatening anaphylaxis should provide the school with all necessary medications for implementing the student- specific order on an annual basis. This guideline is not intended to replace student-specific orders or parent-provided individual medications.