Back to School 2025 - Food Allergy Resources
With recent cuts to the Department of Education and the Office for Civil Rights halting federal enforcement of 504 plans, families of students with food allergies are left with fewer formal protections than in years past. This shift means that while schools may continue with current policies around food allergy training, food handling and emergency preparedness, there is no longer a federal process to ensure those protections are upheld. In this environment, families and providers must take a more proactive role, making sure critical forms are updated, advocating for consistent policies and equipping themselves with the knowledge and tools needed to keep children safe.
To support this work, we’ve compiled a set of back-to-school resources that highlight strong district policies, practical checklists and expert guidance. These examples can help families engage with their schools, push for more comprehensive protections and share important information with teachers, caregivers and community members. These resources come from within the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI), Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) and their subdivision Kids with Food Allergies (KFA), Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Connection Team (FAACT), Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) and more.
Forms and Policies: For Parents to Give to/Ask for/Discuss with Their Child’s School.
Anaphylaxis Emergency Action Plan
The Anaphylaxis Emergency Action Plan is the most basic tool to protect a student with food allergies in school. This version, created by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI), is the most important resource for school personnel in case a student has an anaphylactic reaction. While the allergist / immunologist will provide this to the student on an annual basis, it is essential families provide the updated version to their school at the beginning of each school year. Families may additionally review this information with teachers individually to ensure they are aware of the student's allergies and are knowledgeable about their student's specific plan.
Anaphylaxis and Food Allergy Prevention and Response Policy
This district-level policy from Appleton, WI, outlines comprehensive procedures for preventing and responding to food allergy emergencies in schools. It defines roles for staff, parents and students, includes prevention measures such as cleaning and food handling protocols, and emphasizes staff-wide training to recognize and respond to anaphylaxis. The policy also details requirements for individualized Anaphylaxis Emergency Action Plans, supports student self-carry of epinephrine with proper authorization, and establishes clear steps for emergency response, including immediate administration of epinephrine and calling 911. Families can use this policy to understand best practices and advocate for strong protections in schools.
Release Form for Self-Carry Epinephrine
Depending on his or her age, a student with food allergies may be capable of carrying and/or administering their own epinephrine. This decision should be made by the student’s family in consultation with their allergist / immunologist. This resource by Kids with Food Allergies (KFA), a division of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) discusses some of the considerations for helping families and providers decide when a student is ready to self-carry their epinephrine. If the student is ready to do so, their family should ensure that they have filled out the proper form to allow them to self-carry their epinephrine at school. Another consideration is whether to obtain and carry epinephrine intranasal spray or a traditional autoinjector. The first intranasal epinephrine was approved by the FDA in 2024. A sample of this form, developed by the Montgomery County Public Schools of Rockville, MD, is listed here, followed by a shorter version developed by Central Kitsap School District of Bremerton, WA, here.
Information for Parents: Information Parents Should Know About What Students with Food Allergies are Entitled to Under the Law and Other Relevant Information.
Food Allergies and 504s for Parents
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 remains in effect, so schools should be providing and following 504 plans at this time. While cuts to the US Department of Education and the Office of Civil Rights impact whether 504 plans will be upheld upon the filing of an enforcement complaint, they continue to be a useful tool to streamline accommodations for a student with food allergies. These resources by the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Connection Team (FAACT) and Food Allergy & Education (FARE) illustrate how 504 plans work generally, how they apply to students with food allergies, how their child can benefit and more.
Planning for School: A Parent/Caregiver Guide
This guide, created by FAACT, compiles tips and resources for parents to help them in creating a safe and healthy school environment for their children with food allergies. This guide includes tips for communicating with school personnel, general and detailed information about various aspects of having a child with food allergies, questions to ask their school, sample forms and more.
Food Allergy Stages Handouts
These AAAAI handouts were designed to help families manage food allergies and teach children about food allergies at different developmental stages. Parents can find tips and guidance that evolves as their child grows and are able to take a bigger role in managing their food allergies.
Educational Information: To Share with School Staff, Teachers and Anyone Responsible for the Student’s Safety.
Anaphylaxis Interactive Learning Guide
This interactive guide was developed by the AAAAI to help patients and caregivers understand and recognize the symptoms of anaphylaxis by presenting different scenarios and testing the viewer's response. This resource can act as a secondary comprehension check for families or school personnel. This is especially helpful as it covers the various ways that signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis could manifest.
Food Allergy Management & Prevention Support Tool (FAMS) Expert Recommendations (2023)
This resource, created by FARE in partnership with the American Academy of Pediatrics and endorsed by the AAAAI, compiles expert recommendations and provides specific and actionable recommendations for creating a food allergy safe school, including practical guidance on educating and training school personnel, preventing allergen exposure, preparing for emergencies and communicating and collaborating for success. This may be helpful for families and schools to understand best practices around managing food allergies.
Food Allergy Guidance for School Staff
These resources are aimed at school staff. First, 'FAACTs for Schools' Staff Education Program is designed for school nurses, educators or advocates to educate school personnel nationwide. It includes the presentation 'Get the FAACTs About Food Allergies' which provides an overview of food allergies, including current best practices based on the Centers for Disease Control’s “Voluntary Guidelines for Managing Food Allergies in Schools.” While a school may use another educational program, if there is no such program in place, families or providers could suggest this program to the student's school. Similarly, this FARE webinar is aimed at providing guidance for school staff on how to create a safer, more inclusive school year for all students with food allergies. It covers food allergy recognition and treatment, management and prevention plans and safe practices for in-school dining and nutrition.
Epinephrine Can Help Schools Prepare for Severe Allergic Reactions
This blog post by KFA discusses the importance of schools stocking epinephrine, highlights the breakthrough of the first FDA approved intranasal epinephrine and underscores the need for stronger policies to ensure all schools are equipped with epinephrine in any form approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This resource may be a helpful tool for parents or school staff to understand the different types of epinephrine, whether their school has a stock of epinephrine and whether it is intranasal spray or autoinjector epinephrine.
Videos: How to Administer Epinephrine
Epi-Pen: How to Use an EPIPEN® (epinephrine injection, USP) Auto-Injector
neffy: How to use neffy® (epinephrine nasal spray) in a child aged 4 yrs & older (33lbs to below 66lbs)
neffy: How to use neffy® (epinephrine nasal spray) in an adolescent (66 lbs. or more)
Visit our School Tools for more tips.
9/4/2025