Parent-Designated Adult

Parents of students with seizure disorders or epilepsy may designate an adult to provide care for their student consistent with Board Policy No. 3409, Accommodating Students with Seizure Disorders or Epilepsy, and the student’s individual health care plan. At parent request, school district employees may volunteer to be a parent-designated adult under Policy No. 3409 and this procedure, but they will not be required to participate.

“Parent-designated adult” (PDA) means a parent-designated adult who is not licensed under chapter 18.79 and: (A) Volunteers for the designation; (B) receives additional training from a health care professional or expert in care for epilepsy or other seizure disorders selected by the parents; and (C) provides care for the child consistent with the individual health plan.

A parent-designated adult may be a school district employee. Parent-designated adults who are school employees will file a voluntary written, current, and unexpired letter of intent stating their willingness to be a parent-designated adult. Parent-designated adults who are school employees are required to receive training in caring for students with seizures from the school nurse or from a parent-selected health care professional or appropriate personnel from a national epilepsy organization that offers seizure training and education for school nurses and other school personnel. If a school district employee who is not licensed under chapter 18.79 RCW chooses not to file a letter under this section, the employee may not be subject to any employer reprisal or disciplinary action for refusing to file a letter.

Parent-designated adults who are not school employees are required to show evidence of comparable training and meet school district requirements for volunteers. Parent-designated adults must receive additional training from a parent-selected health care professional or expert in seizure care to provide the care requested by the parent. The school nurse is not responsible for the supervision of procedures authorized by the parents and carried out by the parent-designated adult.

Policy Cross References

• 3409 – Accommodating Students with Seizure Disorders or Epilepsy

Approved

• August 20, 2024