Parent Handbook - Harford County Public Schools

• All medication must be accompanied by a written health care provider’s order. These
instructions must contain: the student’s name, name of the medication, the route of
administration, the exact dosage, time and circumstances of administration, length of time
the medication is to be continued, reason for administration, health care provider’s
name, time and frequency of administration and date of order. Parents/guardians
must also provide written authorization to administer medication to their child. For your
convenience, a form for this purpose is available from the school nurse. No medication
may be administered to a student without the required health care provider’s
order and parent/guardian permission. Faxed medication orders are acceptable. In
some circumstances orders written on health care provider’s letterhead or prescription
pad is acceptable.
• The parent/guardian should give the first dose of any new prescription or over the
counter medication at home (except for emergency medication, e.g. Epi-Pen®).
• Medication must be in its original prescription bottle, properly labeled by the pharmacy.
Pharmacies can provide a second labeled bottle to accommodate medications that are
given at school. Siblings may not share medication.
• Discretionary medications are available for occasional use only to students who
have a signed permission slip on file in the health suite. Acetaminophen, ibuprofen,
diphenhydramine, antacid tablets and cough drops may be administered under the
ordered protocols of the physician from the Harford County Health Department and at
the discretion of the school nurse.
• Over-the-counter medications that are required on a more than occasional basis must
be accompanied by an order from an authorized health care provider and supplied and
transported to the health suite by the parent/guardian.
Parents/guardians or their designee must bring the medication to the school personally.
Students are not permitted to carry medication on school buses or the school
grounds. Under extenuating circumstances there may be exceptions. This is for the safety of
all students.
• If the health care provider feels that your child must carry and self-administer either an
inhaler or Epi-Pen®, please have the health care provider complete the “Permission for
Students to Carry/Self Administer Medications” form, stating the medical necessity for
carrying the medication. The parent/guardian must also sign the form. This completed
form must be given to the school nurse. The school nurse will notify all appropriate
personnel when such exceptions are granted, including bus drivers. A copy of this
form will be retained in the student’s confidential health folder. The Contract for Self-
Administration of Medication must also be completed. Back-up medications must be
kept in the health suite.
• No medication will be stored over the summer. The parent/guardian must pick up
all medication by the end of the school day on the last day of school. Any remaining
medication not picked up by a parent/guardian will be destroyed. No medication will be
sent home with a student.
• A new health care provider’s order and parent/guardian permission form is required for
medications at the beginning of each new school year, and for any changes during the
school year.
• Students are permitted to carry cough drops, but must have written parent/guardian
permission. No health care provider’s order is required.
To ensure the safety of the student taking medications, as well as other students, the following apply:
• All medications are kept in a locked cabinet in the health suite at all times.
• Medication must be taken in the presence of the school nurse, principal, or designee.
• Records are maintained documenting the medication taken, date, time, and the person who administered
it. Immunization requirements can be found under Registering Your Child For School, page 17.
Home And Hospital Instruction
Home and hospital instruction is a teaching and learning temporary program when a child is unable to attend
school because of illness, accident, or emotional impairment.
FOR THE STUDENT . . .
• Students will be given a minimum of six hours of instruction per week.
• Books will be provided by the school.
• At quarterly intervals, progress will be assessed and will become part of the school report card grade.
FOR THE PARENT . . .
• There is no charge for this service.
• The service is provided for physically and/or emotionally impaired students.
• A physician or psychiatrist/psychologist must verify that the child is unable to attend school.
• Home teaching will begin at the time of verification of the need.
FOR THE SCHOOL . . .
• The school will be contacted by the home teacher immediately after being assigned.
• The school coordinator of home teaching will gather the lessons, plans, books, etc., for the home teacher.
• Just prior to the end of each marking period, the school will receive grades from the home teacher.
• Home teaching grades will be averaged into the grades earned while the student was in school.
FOR THE HOME TEACHER . . .
• The home teacher will contact the school to make arrangements to pick up books and materials.
• The home teacher will arrange with the student and her/his family a mutually agreed-upon schedule.
• The home teacher will be responsible for submitting progress reports to the school.
• The home teacher will notify the area Student Services Office and the school of the termination of the
home teaching program.
• The home teacher will return all books and materials to the school.
Homework
Properly planned homework assignments should relate directly to class work and extend learning beyond
the classroom. Effective homework assignments teach students to become independent learners. While it is
recognized that student achievement improves significantly when teachers regularly assign homework and
students conscientiously complete assignments, homework has other important purposes. Homework provides
the students valuable experiences in following directions, making judgments, raising additional questions for
study, and developing responsibility and self-discipline.
Additionally, homework is a means to communicate to parents regarding current class activities and topics of
study.
1. Appropriateness of Homework
Homework should be appropriate to the age, ability, and independent level of students. Student
characteristics including grade level, motivation, and study habits must be considered.
2. Assignment Characteristics and Initial Classroom Factors
Teachers should ensure that students understand the purpose of each homework assignment. The
amount of homework, the skills to be reinforced, and completion deadlines influence student outcomes.
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