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Food Allergy Action Plan for School: What the Form Is, Who Signs It, and How to Get It Done

A Food Allergy Action Plan is a one-page form, signed by a licensed clinician, that a school keeps on file. It lists the foods a child must avoid, the symptoms of an allergic reaction, and when and how staff should use an epinephrine auto-injector. The AAP recommends every child with a life-threatening allergy have one on file at school.

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What does the food allergy action plan form include?

The AAP and FARE both provide widely used templates; some districts have their own version. The 2025 AAP clinical report on food allergy management in schools recommends that the written plan include 1:

  • The specific foods the child must avoid
  • Symptoms of a mild-to-moderate reaction and how staff should respond (antihistamine, observation)
  • Symptoms of a severe reaction (anaphylaxis) and the step-by-step epinephrine protocol
  • Whether the child is old enough to carry their own epinephrine
  • Locations of the child's personal epinephrine device and any school-stocked epinephrine
  • Emergency contacts and the nearest emergency room
  • A clinician's signature, date, and contact information

Most schools also require a separate medication authorization form to store and administer any prescription medication, including the epinephrine auto-injector. Ask the school nurse whether one form or two is needed.

Who fills it out and who has to sign it?

The form is a shared document. You fill in your child's name, emergency contacts, and known allergens. The clinical section — diagnosis, symptom thresholds, epinephrine instructions, and signature — must be completed by a licensed provider: your child's pediatrician, family physician, or allergist.

The provider's signature is what makes the form legally actionable in most states. Without it, school staff generally cannot administer the epinephrine auto-injector 1. The AAP notes that the role of the pediatrician or pediatric primary care clinician includes prescribing self-administered epinephrine and working with schools to develop plans that reduce the risk of anaphylaxis 1.

If the allergy has not been formally diagnosed through testing, your provider can still complete the form based on a documented clinical history of allergic reactions.

How do I get the form completed before school starts?

1. Download the form before the appointment — use the AAP or FARE template, or ask the school nurse for the district's required version. Bring both if you are unsure. 2. Complete the parent sections before you arrive: your child's name, known allergens, emergency contacts. 3. Schedule a primary care or telehealth visit and mention the form when booking, so the clinician allocates time to review the allergy history and sign. 4. Confirm the epinephrine prescription is current. Schools typically need the auto-injector on campus in addition to the signed form. 5. Return the completed form to the school nurse before the first day. Many schools will not allow a child with a documented allergy on campus without it 1.

Does the form need to be updated each year?

Yes. Most schools require a new clinician-signed form at the start of each school year 1. Food allergy affects an estimated 8% of children in the United States, and anaphylaxis is estimated to occur in approximately 1 in 15 schools per year — making up-to-date documentation a genuine safety matter 2.

Update the form sooner if your child's allergens change, if the epinephrine dosing changes as your child grows, or if the prescription changes formulation. Keep a copy at home and share one with any caregiver who may pick up your child.

Common questions

Does the school need FARE's template, or does it have its own form?

Ask the school nurse before the appointment. Some districts accept FARE's standard template; others require their own district-specific form. Bring both to the visit if you are not sure.

Can my child carry their own epinephrine at school?

Self-carry rules vary by state and age. Some states allow children to carry their own auto-injector starting at a certain grade; others require it to be kept in the nurse's office. Your school nurse or state health department can clarify what applies locally.

What if my child's allergy has not been confirmed through testing?

A clinician can complete the form based on a documented clinical history of allergic reactions. They may also recommend skin-prick testing or a blood IgE panel to formally confirm the allergy and strengthen the documentation.

Does a telehealth visit work for getting the form signed?

Many clinicians can complete the form via telehealth if the allergy and treatment history are already documented in your child's chart. Confirm with the practice before booking.

Talk to a clinician

Nina Osei, NP — Nurse Practitioner

checkups, refills & skin. Gale can match you with a licensed clinician for a visit.

Find care →

When to act immediately

  • —Trouble breathing, throat tightening, severe hives, or vomiting after eating — this is anaphylaxis: give epinephrine now and call 911
  • —Loss of consciousness or unresponsiveness after any suspected allergic exposure — call 911 immediately
  • —Symptoms progressing quickly even after one epinephrine dose — call 911; a second dose and emergency observation are needed

If your child is having a severe allergic reaction right now, give epinephrine if available and call 911. Do not wait.

This article is general health information and is not a diagnosis or medical advice for your child. Only a licensed clinician who examines your child and reviews their history can complete and sign a Food Allergy Action Plan. Always follow your child's existing emergency plan and call 911 if you suspect anaphylaxis.

References

  1. 1.American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Nutrition (2025). Management of Food Allergy in Schools: Clinical Report. Pediatrics. doi:10.1542/peds.2025-073168 ✓AAP 2025 clinical report: every child with a potentially life-threatening food allergy should have an individualized written emergency action plan; clinician role includes prescribing epinephrine and working with schools; annual plan updates recommended
  2. 2.Greenhawt M, et al. (2025). Food-related allergic reactions in a school setting with a strict management plan. PubMed Central / Allergy. link ✓Food allergy affects approximately 8% of US children; anaphylaxis occurs in approximately 1 in 15 schools per year — underlining why up-to-date action plans matter

2 sources, numbered by first appearance. General health information, not medical advice — synthetic demonstration content.