New York City schools offer many health services to support all students. School physicians and nurses help manage the health of students with all health conditions, such as asthma, allergies, and diabetes. Students with health conditions and disabilities can receive prescribed medicine, skilled nursing treatments and 504 Accommodations in school. School physicians conduct physical examinations.
Schools also offer mental health services, classes on asthma management and diabetes prevention (Open Airways and Obesity Management Program (HOP)), and health programs such as Connecting Adolescents to Comprehensive Health (CATCH) at select high schools.
School Nurses and Physicians
Your child’s health is our priority. Office of School Health nurses and physicians are dedicated to improving the health of New York City students. Click below to read the services each can offer your child:
School Nurses
Our school nurses are actively involved in school health programs. School Nurses:
- Give prescribed medicine to students with a Medication Administration Form (MAF) on file.
- Provide prescribed nursing services to students with a Medically Prescribed Treatment Form (MPTF) on file.
- Monitor students with chronic health problems, and inform parents if health problems are getting worse.
- Schedule students for physician assessments if needed.
- Teach classes on asthma management (Open Airways) and obesity prevention (HOP).
- Support programs like Connecting Adolescents to Comprehensive Health (CATCH).
School Physicians
Our school physicians are board-certified or board-eligible physicians. They provide care in a select number of public and private schools in New York City. School Physicians:
- Clinically support school programs that help manage asthma, prevent obesity and pregnancy, and screen for depression.
- Provide medical exams for students. Students are encouraged to receive medical exams from their health care providers. However, if this is not possible, school physicians can provide the following examinations:
- New Admission Examination.
- Pre-participatory Sports Examination.
- Working Papers Examination.
All physical exams are performed with a chaperone present in the room. If the school physician finds any health conditions, the student will be referred to his/her health care provider or specialist for follow-up care.
Medicine at School and Skilled Nursing Treatments
If your child has a health condition, they may benefit from taking prescribed medicine or a skilled nursing treatment at school. Talk to your child’s health care provider to see if taking medicine at school or a skilled nursing treatment would help your child better manage his health condition.
- All students with any diagnosis such as asthma, allergies or diabetes should submit a Medication Administration Form (MAF) to their school.
- The MAF provides the school nurse with prescribed orders to treat your child during the school day.
- Even if your child can take their own medicine, it is important for the school clinical team to be aware of the student’s medical needs in case of an emergency.
- You must submit a new MAF each school year.
Taking Medicine at School
We offer three different levels of supervision while your child is taking medicine. Your child’s independence level will determine if they can take medicine unassisted or will need to be supervised by a trained staff member or a nurse. Talk to your child’s health care provider to decide which option is best for your child.
Nurse Dependent
Your child’s prescribed medicine will be given by the school nurse. The school nurse will ensure that your child’s medicine is taken correctly, as prescribed.
- This option is best for students who may not take their medicine correctly on their own. For example:
- they may not understand the medicine’s purpose or what would happen if it isn’t taken.
- they may have trouble consistently identifying their medicine, knowing how to take it (the correct route), the right dose, or when to take the medicine.
Supervised
Your child will be assisted by a trained adult. The staff member will help your child take his medicine according to the health care provider’s directions. For example, if your child asks, the staff member may help open bottles, pour liquid or assemble a nebulizer.
- This option is best for students who know how to take their medicine correctly, but still need some help taking it.
- Staff members help if the student asks, so students must be responsible enough to identify their medicine, know when and how to take it, and the correct dose.
Independent
Your child will give themselves medicine without any help. For rescue medicines, like those needed for asthma, diabetes, and allergies, your child will carry the medicine with them during the school day. This option is best for students who can consistently take their medicine correctly on their own.
If your child’s medicine is not a rescue medicine, they will go to the school health office to take it. Controlled substances must be kept in the school medical room.
How to Apply for Health Services
All students who require medication administration will have access to a school nurse. For a nurse to provide care, you must submit an MAF. See below for the Medical Accommodation Forms Charts and consult with your child’s medical provider to determine whether your child may need additional accommodations to participate in school.
Review the Guidelines for Provision of Health Services for more details on how to apply for health services.
If your child is enrolled in an Early Childhood program, guidance on health supports can be found in the Early Childhood Learning webpage. If your child is enrolled in a Nonpublic School or Charter School, guidance can be found in the Nonpublic & Charter Schools webpage.
Medical Administration Forms Chart:
Scenario #1: Medication Administration from School Nurse
- If the only accommodation your child needs is medication administration from a school nurse, please refer to Scenario #1, and follow the steps below. Download the Standard Forms and/or Condition Specific Forms from this website. See below for the Medical Administration Forms Chart for this scenario and consult with your child’s medical provider to determine what forms need to be completed according to their Medical Condition.
- Your child’s medical provider will complete and sign any relevant/applicable MAF(s) needed to support your child’s medical needs in school.
- Completed MAF(s) must be submitted to the school nurse at your child’s school.
| Medical Condition | Standard Forms |
|---|
Diabetes
| |
| Allergy/Anaphylaxis | |
Asthma
| |
Seizures
| |
| Medical Procedures or Medical Equipment Management (ventilation, g-tube) | |
| Other medical conditions | |
Scenario #2: Additional Medical Supports/Accommodations (beyond medication administration/treatment from school nurse)
If your child requires additional medical accommodations or supports to participate in school or school-sponsored activities on an equal basis with their peers, they may be eligible for those supports (i.e. paraprofessional, individualized nursing, or transportation) through a 504 Plan or IEP.
To request additional medical supports/accommodations:
- Download the Standard Forms and/or Condition Specific Forms from this website. See above for the Medical Administration Forms Chart for scenario #1 and consult with your child’s medical provider to determine what forms need to be completed according to their Medical Condition.
- Your child’s medical provider will complete and sign:
- Any relevant/applicable MAF(s) needed to support your child’s medical needs in school.
- The Medical Accommodation Request Form (MARF).
- Completed MAF(s) must be submitted to the school nurse at your child’s school. The completed MARF must be submitted to the school-based staff member facilitating the accommodations process.
- If you are seeking these additional medical support/accommodations through a Section 504 Plan, refer to the 504 Accommodations webpage or your school’s 504 Coordinator for more information about the process and additional required paperwork.
- If you are seeking these additional medical supports/accommodations through an Individualized Education Program (IEP), refer to the IEP Process webpage or your school’s Principal for more information about the process and additional required paperwork.
Health Services Forms
Emergency Services
Automated External Defibrillators and Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation
As mandated by New York State Education Law Section 917, each public school building must have at least one AED installed at its main entrance, usually near the School Safety Officer’s desk, and staff trained in AED/CPR. Large school buildings have additional units installed throughout the building. A list of the location of each AED unit is located at the building’s main entrance.
Schools must have AED/CPR trained staff present during all school hours of operation. Schools must also ensure the presence of at least one AED at school-sponsored or school-approved curricular or extra-curricular activities/events on or off-site except for field trips. High school coaches are required to take portable AEDs to all games and practices.
Naloxone
School Nurses and school physicians may administer naloxone when indicated. Additional school staff may be trained to carry and administer naloxone; please see here for more information.
Epinephrine
School nurses and other trained school staff may administer epinephrine when indicated, in accordance with Chancellor's Regulation A-715. Please see here for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions
I submitted a Medication Administration Form or a medically prescribed treatment form for my child last year. Do I need to submit a new one this year?
Yes. You should submit a new Medication Administration Form or Medically Prescribed Treatment form every school year. While these are accepted on a rolling basis, we recommend submitting them by June 1 for the next school year. That way your child will have no break in access to their medication.
- Prescriptions on MAF and Medically Prescribed Treatment forms expire at the end of each school year. Your school nurse needs a new, updated Medication Administration Form every year to continue to give your child medicine at school or skilled nursing treatments.
- Bring your child to their health care provider to fill out a new MAF or medically prescribed treatment form. Learn more about why your child should see their health care provider regularly.
- See the Parent Letter – 504 Accommodations Reauthorization (School Year 2026 – 2027) for more information.
What medicines are available for free in school?
If your child has asthma, your school will provide free Albuterol and Fluticason110 ucg . Your school can only provide Albuterol and/or Fluticasome 110 if it has been prescribed by your child’s health care provider on your submitted MAF.
You must bring any other medical equipment, prescription and over-the-counter medicine that your child may need to the school nurse. Please pick up your child’s unused medicine at the end of the school year.
Can the medicine I bring to my child’s school be already opened or used?
No. For safety reasons, we only accept new, unopened medicine in its original box or bottle.
How should the medicine be labeled?
Prescription medicine must have original pharmacy labels. The labels must include:
- your child’s name
- the pharmacy name and phone number
- your child’s health care provider’s name
- the date
- number of refills
- name of medicine
- dosage
- when to take the medicine
- how the medicine should be taken
- any other directions
Over-the-counter medicine must be in the original bottle or box.
Where is medicine kept at school?
For safety reasons, medicine and medical equipment are generally stored in the school health office. Independent students may carry their rescue medicines with them.
All prescribed controlled substances are stored in the school health office. Students are not allowed to carry or give themselves controlled substances.
Can I change the time that my child receives medicine at school?
Only your child’s health care provider can make this request. Ask your child’s health care provider to send the school an updated MAF or prescription.
What happens if my child has a medical emergency?
All school nurses and select school staff and are trained how to best respond to a wide range of emergency situations.
In case of a medical emergency, it is especially important for students to have a MAF on file at school. A MAF enables your child to receive their prescribed medicine at school, as soon as possible.
Depending on the illness, trained staff will respond accordingly. Students experiencing a serious allergic reaction will be treated at school with life saving epinephrine even if they do not have an MAF on file. Only the school nurse can give epinephrine to students who do not have a MAF on file. Trained school staff can only give epinephrine to students with a Medication Administration Form on file.
For questions about school medical emergency procedures, reach out to osh@health.nyc.gov.
Health Contacts
For questions about your child’s health services in school, speak to your school nurse. If you do not know your school nurse, contact your schools Borough Nursing Director or Supervising Nurse. For questions about any health issues or medical examinations provided at school, contact your school’s Supervising Physician. Contact information can be found in the documents listed below or through EduDirectory.
Health Supports in Early Childhood Settings
For information about health supports for 3-K and pre-K students offered in different early childhood settings, see the Health Supports by Setting Type section on the Early Childhood Learning webpage.
Find Out More
Click on the links below to learn about more specific areas of our health services:
Last Updated: August 2026