DBS CODE: 5141.3 DBS CODE: 5141.3STUDENTS:
Health Examination and Immunizations:
1. All kindergarten and first entry school children must have a preschool physical examination and must have completed full immunization requirements, as specified by the current regulations of the State Department of Health, before school entry.
2. Physical exams are required for all students in grades 6 and 10. All starred items on the medical evaluation form (HAR-3) must be completed by the person doing the physical exam. Physical exams should be no more than one year old prior to the start of the new school year. This will be waived if a parent can show proof that an exam is scheduled during the current school year. No student will be allowed to enter grade 7 or grade 11 without state-mandated immunizations and proof of a physical exam being completed.
3. Students entering, both inter and intra-state, will be required to produce written documentation that all requirements have been met or present a certificate from their physician stating immunizations are medically contraindicated or provide a statement from a parent or guardian that immunizations are contrary to religious beliefs.
4. Parents/guardians wanting their children excused from immunizations on religious grounds (prior to kindergarten entry and grade 7 entry) must request such exemption in writing to the Superintendent of Schools if such immunization is contrary to the religious beliefs of the child or of the parent/guardian of the child. The request must be officially acknowledged by a notary public or a judge, a clerk or deputy clerk of a court having a seal, a town clerk, a justice of the peace, a Connecticut-licensed attorney or a school nurse.
5. Students entering from within the state must show evidence of a physical examination done by a physician in compliance with state requirements.
6. Health screenings shall be required for all students in the following schedule:
Physical screening to detect scoliosis will be done for females in Grades 5 and 7 and for males in Grades 8 or 9. Students that have scoliosis screening done by a physician within one calendar year will be exempted from school nurse screenings.
Vision screening will be done in Grades K, 1, 3, 4, and 5 by the nurses.
Hearing will be screened in grades K, 1, 3, 4, and 5 by the nurses.
The school system shall provide these screening to students at no cost to parents. Parents shall be provided an annual written notification of screenings to be conducted. Parents wishing to have these screenings to be conducted by their private physician shall be required to report screening results to the school nurse.
(Health assessments may be conducted by a licensed physician, advanced practice registered nurse, registered nurse, physician assistant or by the School Medical Advisor.)
7. Parents will be notified in writing via the student handbooks of the screening procedures. Parents will be notified regarding any defects found during the screenings.
8. School administration shall assure compliance with all Connecticut General Statutes pertaining to health examination and immunizations.
9. Expulsion procedures for those transfer students not complying with the above requirements will be covered in Administrative Regulations.
The school nurse who is required to verify the immunization status for children enrolled in District schools, pre-K to grade 12, inclusive, pursuant to C.G.S. 10-204a, shall be provided with sufficient information on the children living within his/her jurisdiction and is listed on the Department of Public Health's registry of immunization status. The school nurse is authorized to determine which children in their jurisdiction are overdue for scheduled immunizations and provide outreach to help get them vaccinated.
Legal References: Connecticut General Statutes
10-204a Required Immunizations (as amended by P.A. 15-174 and P.A. 15-242)
10-206 Health Assessments
10-214.4 Vision, audiometric and postural screenings
Notification of parents re defects; record of results, as amended by P.A. 96-229, 14-230, An Act Concerning Minor Revisions to the Education Statutes.
3a, 10-204a-4
Section 4 of P.A. 14-231
Cross Reference: Interscholastic competition 6145.2
Adopted: November 13, 1979
Revised: May 29, 1984
October 26, 1992
February 9, 1998
Revised: March 23, 1998
January 27, 2003
September 22, 2014
March 9, 2015
November 9, 2015
March 12, 2018
ADMIN. REG: 5141.3STUDENTS:
Immunizations, Physical Examinations, and Health Records:
Students not complying with State requirements regarding immunizations and physical examinations will be excluded from school. Students are exempt from immunizations and physical examinations when they show proof the requirements are waived because of religious beliefs and tenets and from immunizations when waived by a physician for medical reasons.
The following steps are to be used when a student is to be excluded for noncompliance.
Immunizations:
1. A new student, first entry, or transfer, must show proof of meeting the immunization requirements set down by the Connecticut State Department of Health before entering school. The school nurse will review the information to be sure the student is in compliance.
2. The student is excluded from school until the requirements are met and proof submitted to the school nurse.
3. Proof of immunization may be obtained from various sources: school health records, physician or clinic records, by FAX or phone calls made by the school nurse to the nurse at the school the student last attended (followed by written confirmation).
Physical Examinations:
1. All first entry students must have a physical examination before entering school. The student is excluded from school until the physical exam is done and proof submitted to the school nurse.
2. Interstate transfer students are required to have a physical exam within a month of entry if they do not show proof of having had one within the past year. Proof of having had one within the past year will be considered a valid physical examination.
3. Intrastate transfer students are required to have had a physical exam in compliance with state regulations.
4. The following steps will be used to exclude the student in the event the completed physical assessment form has not been returned in the 30-day period:
a. A telephone call is made to a parent/guardian by the nurse with a reminder that the physical exam form has not been returned.
b. A letter to the parent will be sent from the nurse allowing a one-week extension and requesting the name of the physician and date of appointment.
c. A letter will be sent to the parent from the building principal allowing a one-week extension and notification that the student will be excluded for noncompliance with the law if it is not done. A copy will be sent to the superintendent and nurse.
d. The superintendent will notify the parent by letter that the student’s exclusion will start within 48 hours. A copy of the letter will be sent to the building principal and nurse.
5. The student will be readmitted upon receipt of the completed physical assessment form.
Health Records:
Local regulations relative to medical history release forms, as well as authorizations, must be on file in each nurse’s office.
1. The school will send a copy of the health record release form signed by the parent to the nurse at the school the student last attended.
2. If the health record, original if intrastate transfer or copy if interstate transfer, has not been received in 15 days, the parent will be notified by the nurse and requested to contact the old school for release of the health record.
3. The student will not be excluded if health records do not arrive, but the student will be required to show proof of having had a physical exam within the past year, or has met the state physical examination requirement or gets a physical exam which includes height, weight, blood pressure, pulse, hematocrit/hemoglobin, and screenings for vision, hearing and scoliosis.
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Immunization - no entry without proof
Physical Exam - new entrant, no entry without proof transfer, 30-day waiver period
Adopted: September 16, 1982
Revised: March 22, 1993
Reviewed: September 11, 2003