To provide guidance and to clarify the Seizure Safe Schools Act of 2023 (A.C.A § 6-18-720).

Prior to the passing of the Seizure Safe Schools Act of 2023, school districts were charged with ensuring the provision of professional development for teachers and other school personnel according to existing state policy (A.C.A § 6-18-701; A.C.A. § 17-87-102) to include:

• Creating a plan of care, individualized healthcare plan and/or emergency action plan and train individuals for student specific care.  In the development of an individualized plan of care and/or emergency action plan, the School Nurse Roles and Responsibilities: Practice Guidelines must be followed to include:

• Seizure first aid training and any delegated nursing tasks student specific including Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)/Automated External Defibrillator (AED)/First Aid (FA).
• Healthcare provider orders.
• Signature from the parent to administer the medication at school.
• An Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved medication for seizures.
• Storage of the medication to be safe and secure.

The Seizure Safe Schools Act of 2023 added additional regulatory requirements for school personnel, as follows:

• By 2024-2025 have at least two (2) school employees who have meet training requirements at a school district:
  • Administer or assist with seizure rescue medication or electrical stimulation using a Vagal Nerve Stimulation (VNS).
  • Recognize signs and symptoms of seizures and appropriate steps.
  • A full-time school nurse shall serve as one of two meeting these requirements.
• Up to 75 minutes of training required every two (2) years in person or online on the recognition of seizures and appropriate steps for seizure first aid with direct contact and supervision of children and the training adopted shall be consistent with training programs and guidelines developed by the Epilepsy Foundation of America or any successor organization. A school district may use adequate and appropriate training programs or guidelines for training school personnel.  This law states the training may count towards the continuing education hours that a school nurse receives.
• Each public school district shall develop an age-appropriate seizure education program consistent with training programs and guidelines developed by the Epilepsy Foundation.

To assist school district personnel  with meeting the requirements for A.C.A. § 6-18-720, visit the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education School Health Services website to access the resources provided by the Epilepsy Foundation, found HERE.

For questions related to the Seizure Safe Schools Act, contact:

Cheria McDonald, MSN, RN, NCSN

501-683-3586