| POLICY ON PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS |
Act No. 825 Psychotropic Drug Use 1. Recommending the use of psychotropic drugs for any student within the school system 2. Specifying or identifying any specific mental health diagnosis for a student 3. Using a parent’s or guardian’s refusal to consent to the administration of a psychotropic drug to a student or to a psychiatric evaluation, screening, or examination of a student as grounds for prohibiting the student from attending any class or participating in any school-related activity or as a sole basis of accusations of child abuse or neglect against the parent or guardian. 1. School health or mental health personnel, including school registered nurses, nurse practitioners, school psychologists, social workers, and school counselors from recommending that a student be evaluated by an appropriate medical practitioner. 2. A teacher or other certified employee from suggesting a student be assessed or evaluated by qualified employees of the Board who perform such function. 3. A teacher assessing or evaluating any element of a student’s academic readiness, performance, or achievement.
4.
Any school board employee from discussing any aspect of a student’s behavior or academic progress with the student’s parent or guardian or any other employee of the school board. For purposes of this policy, the term “recommend” shall mean to directly or indirectly suggest that a child use psychotropic drugs. A “psychotropic drug” shall mean a substance that is used in the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of a disease or as a component of a medication and is intended to have an altering effect on perception, emotion, or behavior. “Teacher” shall mean any person employed by the school system, who, as a condition of employment, is required to hold a valid teaching certificate issued by the State Department of Education and any person employed by the school system as a substitute teacher. |