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Pennsylvania

Overall, meets 16 of 23 core policy standards and three of 13 extra credit indicators. Below are the standards that Pennsylvania meets.

The 2019 State Honor Roll of Asthma and Allergy Policies for Schools ranks the states with the best public policies for people with asthma, food allergies, anaphylaxis and related allergic diseases in U.S. elementary, middle and high schools.

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Medication and Treatment Policies

Meets nine of 12 core policy standards in this category:

1. State requires physician’s written instructions to be on file to dispense prescription medication to students.checkmark
2. State policy ensures students’ right to self-carry and self-administer prescribed asthma medication.checkmark
3. State policy ensures students’ right to self-carry and self-administer prescribed anaphylaxis medication.checkmark
4. State policies or procedures shield school personnel from liability for unintended injuries.checkmark
5. State requires local school districts to create asthma and anaphylaxis medication policy and provides resources, guidelines and parameters.checkmark
6. State policy mandates schools to identify and maintain records for students with chronic conditions including asthma and anaphylaxis.checkmark
7. State requires a procedure updating health records periodically.checkmark
8. State requires that schools maintain asthma/allergy incident reports for reactions, attacks and medications administered.x
9. State requires a student health history form that includes asthma/allergy information to be maintained for each student.checkmark
10. State requires schools to have emergency protocols for asthma.x
11. State requires schools to have emergency protocols for anaphylaxis.checkmark
12. Nurse-to-student ratio is 1:750 or better.x

Meets zero of six extra credit indicators in this category:

A. State requires anaphylaxis medicine – epinephrine – stocking and authority to administer in schools.x
B. State allows and/or requires asthma quick-relief medicine – albuterol – stocking and authority to administer in schools.x
C. State has or is preparing an explicit asthma program with policies, procedures and resources for schools to manage students with asthma.x
D. State has or is preparing an explicit anaphylaxis program with policies, procedures and resources for schools to manage students with allergies.x
E. State has adopted policy that each school will have one full-time nurse.x
F. State has adopted policy that school districts provide case management for students with chronic health conditions such as asthma.x
Awareness Policies

Meets both core policy standards in this category:

13. State recognizes problem of asthma in schools and has begun to address it.checkmark
14. State recognizes problem of allergy in schools and has begun to address it.checkmark

Meets zero of two extra credit indicators in this category:

G. State sponsors or provides funding for staff training in asthma awareness covering school asthma program/policy and procedures.x
H. State sponsors or provides funding for staff training in food allergies.x
School Environment Policies

Meets five of nine core policy standards in this category:

15. State has mandated that all schools must have indoor air quality (IAQ) management policies.x
16. State has adopted a policy requiring that districts and schools conduct periodic inspections of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system & other items important in asthma/allergy management.x
17. State has IAQ policies that include specific components important in asthma/allergy management (HVAC, HEPA, carpeting, pesticide use).checkmark
18. State recommends/requires that districts or schools use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques OR ban use of pesticides inside school.checkmark
19. State requires schools to notify parents of upcoming pesticide applications.checkmark
20. State limits school bus idling time and establishes proximity restrictions.x
21. All smoking is prohibited in school buildings and on school grounds.checkmark
22. All smoking is prohibited on school buses and at school-related functions.x
23. Tobacco-use prevention is required in health education curriculum.checkmark

Meets three of five extra credit indicators in this category:

I. State makes funding or resources available for technical IAQ assistance to schools.checkmark
J. State recommends standards and programs to promote environmentally preferable materials for school construction, maintenance and cleaning.x
K. State requires school facility design standards that include low emission construction materials, pollutant source controls, durable and easy to clean surfaces and floors, moisture/mold controls.checkmark
L. State has implemented or actively promotes diesel school bus engine retrofitting program.checkmark
M. State requires districts or schools to provide tobacco-use-cessation services to students.x
Policy Gaps
Nurse-to-Student Ratio; Indoor Air Quality
Noteworthy

Epinephrine in Schools: A 2014 Pennsylvania law (House Bill 803) permits school entities and nonpublic schools to authorize a trained school employee to administer an epinephrine auto-injector or provide an auto-injector to a student who is authorized to self-administer. The bill also creates civil immunity for to any person who administers an epinephrine auto-injector under the section.

In 2010, Pennsylvania enacted a law requiring school entities (including charter schools) to allow students to possess and self-administer both asthma inhalers and epinephrine auto-injectors in a school setting. This policy requires a written10 statement by a physician/nurse practitioner or physician assistant, and parent or guardian. The same law also added food allergy reaction management to the local wellness policy initiatives that schools are required to establish.

In 2011, the state department of education developed Pennsylvania Guidelines for Management of Food Allergies in Schools, Recommendations & Resource Guide for School Personnel, which includes recommendations for schools to address the needs of food allergic students.

Air Quality in Schools: Pennsylvania law sets forth regulations for clean floors and adequate ventilation systems. 25 Pa. Code § 171.9 (Schools; Floors) and 25 Pa. Code § 171.14 – Schools; Heating Ventilation Systems.