4118.234P Psychotropic Drug Use

TERMINOLOGY CHANGE
                                                                                          4118.234
                                                                                         ~5141.231

                                                                                       PERSONNEL

                           PRESCRIPTION ​PSYCHOTROPIC​ DRUG USE

The Board of Education prohibits school personnel from recommending the use of prescription
psychotropic​ drugs for any student. For the purposes of this policy, the term ‘recommend’ shall
mean to directly or indirectly suggest that a student should use prescription​ psychotropic​ drugs.

Psychotropic​ Prescription drugs are defined as ​doctor-prescribed​ ​prescription​ medications for
behavioral or social-emotional concerns, such as attention deficits, impulsivity, anxiety,
depression, and thought disorders, and include but are not limited to stimulant medications
and antidepressants.

School nurses, school psychologists, and/or the district’s Medical Advisor may recommend to a
parent/guardian that their student be evaluated by an appropriate medical practitioner.

The District shall follow procedures for identification, evaluation, placement and delivery of
services to students with disabilities or suspected disabilities provided in state and federal
statutes that govern special education.

Nothing is this policy shall be construed to prohibit a Planning and Placement Team from
discussing with parents and/or guardians of a student the appropriateness of consultation with,
or evaluation by, medical practitioners, or to prohibit school personnel from consulting with
appropriate medical practitioners with the consent of the parents and/or guardians of a
student.

The Superintendent of Schools shall promulgate this policy to district staff and
parents/guardians of students annually and upon the registration of new students.

Legal References: Connecticut General Statutes

                   10-212b          Policies prohibiting the recommendation of psychotropic
                                    drugs by school personnel (as amended by PA 03-211)
                   46b-120          Definitions
                   10-76a           Definitions (as amended by PA 00-48)




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                10-76b          State supervision of special education programs and
                                services
                10-76d          Duties and powers of boards of education to provide
                                special education programs and services (as amended by
                                PA 97-114 and PA 00-48)
                10-76h          Special education hearing and review procedure.
                                Mediation of disputes (as amended by PA 00-48)
                34 C.F.R. 3000 Assistance to States for Education for Handicapped Children

               State Board of Education Regulations
                    American with Disabilities Education Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 ​et seq.
                    Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1400 ​et seq.
                    Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504, 29 U.S.C. § 794


Policy Adopted: November 19, 2001
Policy revised: December 9, 2003
Policy revised: April 10, 2007
Policy revised: January 12, 2021

COLCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Colchester, Connecticut




PSYCHOTROPIC​ PRESCRIPTION DRUG USE                                                   Page 2 of 2