Required Health Examinations and Immunizations

A student’s parent(s)/guardian(s) shall present proof that the student received a health examination with proof of the immunizations against, and screenings for, preventable communicable diseases, as required by the Illinois Department of Public Health, within one year prior to:

1. Entering kindergarten or the first grade;
2. Entering the sixth and ninth grades; and
3. Enrolling in an Illinois school, regardless of the student’s grade (including nursery school, special education, Head Start programs operated by elementary or secondary schools, and students transferring into Illinois from out-of-state or out-of-country).

Proof of meningococcal disease is required for students in grades 6 and 12.

As required by State law:

1. Health examinations must be performed by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches, an advanced practice nurse who has a written collaborative agreement with a collaborating physician authorizing the advanced practice nurse to perform health examinations, or a physician assistant who has been delegated the performance of health examinations by a supervising physician.
2. A diabetes screening must be included as a required part of each health examination; diabetes testing is not required.
3. Beginning with the 2017-2018 school year, an age-appropriate developmental screening and an age-appropriate social and emotional screening are required parts of each health examination.  A student will not be excluded from school due to his or her parent/guardian’s failure to obtain a developmental screening or a social and emotional screening.
4. Before admission and in conjunction with required physical examinations, parents/guardians of children between the ages of one and seven years must provide a statement from a physician that their child was “risk-assessed” or screened for lead poisoning.
5. The Department of Public Health will provide all female students entering sixth grade and their parents/guardians information about the link between human papilloma virus (HPV) and cervical cancer and the availability of the HPV vaccine.
6. The District will provide informational materials regarding influenza, influenza vaccinations, meningococcal disease, and meningococcal vaccinations developed, provided, or approved by the IDPH when it provides information on immunizations, infectious diseases, medications or other school health issues to student’s parent(s)/guardian(s).

Unless the student is homeless, failure to comply with the above requirements by the first day of student attendance of the current school year will result in the student’s exclusion from school until the required health forms are presented to the District.

In an effort to ensure the health and safety of all District students, and to ensure immediate compliance with state law and Illinois School Code, the District has a “First Day Exclusion Policy”.  Under this policy, no student will be admitted on the first day of school without having completed his/her required physicals and/or immunizations.  Complete, confirming documentation must be on file with the school prior to attendance.

New students who register mid-term shall have 30 days following registration to comply with the health examination and immunization regulations.

Eye Examination

Parents/guardians are encouraged to have their children undergo an eye examination whenever health examinations are required.

Parents/guardians of students entering kindergarten or an Illinois school for the first time shall present proof before October 15 of the current school year that the student received an eye examination within one year prior to entry of kindergarten or the school.  A physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches or a licensed optometrist must perform the required eye examination.

The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that parents/guardians are notified of this eye examination requirement in compliance with the rules of the Department of Public Health.  Schools shall not exclude a student from attending school due to failure to obtain an eye examination.

Dental Examination

All children in kindergarten and the second and sixth and ninth grades must present proof of having been examined by a licensed dentist before May 15 of the current school year in accordance with rules adopted by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that parents/guardians are notified of this dental examination requirement at least 60 days before May 15 of each school year.

Exemptions

In accordance with rules adopted by the Illinois Department of Public Health, a student will be exempted from this policy’s requirements for:

1. Religious or medical grounds if the student’s parents/guardians present the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Certificate of Religious Exemption form to the Superintendent or designee.  The Superintendent or designee shall inform the parents/guardians of exclusion procedures pursuant to Board policy 7:280 Communicable and Chronic Infectious Disease and State rules if there is an outbreak of one or more diseases from which the student is not protected.
2. Health examination or immunization requirements on medical grounds if a physician, advanced registered practice nurse, or physician assistant provides written verification;
3. Eye examination requirement if the student’s parents/guardians show an undue burden or lack of access to a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches who provides eye examinations or a licensed optometrist;
4. Dental examination requirement if the student’s parents/guardians show an undue burden or a lack of access to a dentist.

Homeless Child

Any homeless child shall be immediately admitted, even if the child or child’s parent/guardian is unable to produce immunization and health records normally required for enrollment.  School Board policy 6:140, Education of Homeless Children, governs the enrollment of homeless children.

Cross Reference: 

6:030 Organization of Instruction, 6:140 Education of Homeless Children, 6:180 Extended Instructional Programs, 7:050 School Admissions and Student Transfers To and From Non-District Schools, 7:280 Communicable and Chronic Infectious Disease,

Legal Reference(s): 

McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. § 11431 et seq.

105 ILCS 5/27-8.1.

410 ILCS 45/7.1 and 315/2e.

77 Ill.Admin.Code Part 665.

Date Adopted: 12/15/2009

Date Amended: July 23, 2019

Required Health Examinations and Immunizations

A student’s parents/guardians shall present proof that the student received a health examination, with proof of the immunizations against, and screenings for, preventable communicable diseases, as required by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), within one year prior to:

1. Entering kindergarten or the first grade;
2. Entering the sixth and ninth grades; and
3. Enrolling in an Illinois school, regardless of the student’s grade (including nursery school, special education, Head Start programs operated by elementary or secondary schools, and students transferring into Illinois from out-of-state or out-of-country).

Proof of immunization against meningococcal disease is required for students in grades 6 and 12.

As required by State law:

1. Health examinations must be performed by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches, an advanced practice registered nurse, or a physician assistant who has been delegated the performance of health examinations by a supervising physician.
2. A diabetes screening is a required part of each health examination; diabetes testing is not required.
3. An age-appropriate developmental screening and an age-appropriate social and emotional screening are required parts of each health examination.  A student will not be excluded from school due to his or her parent/guardian’s failure to obtain a developmental screening or a social and emotional screening.
4. Before admission and in conjunction with required physical examinations, parents/guardians of children between the ages of one and seven years must provide a statement from a physician that their child was risk-assessed or screened for lead poisoning.
5. The IDPH will provide all students entering sixth grade and their parents/guardians information about the link between human papillomavirus (HPV) and HPV-related cancers and the availability of the HPV vaccine.
6. The District will provide informational materials regarding influenza, influenza vaccinations, meningococcal disease, and meningococcal vaccinations developed, provided, or approved by the IDPH when it provides information on immunizations, infectious diseases, medications or other school health issues to student’s parents/guardians.

Unless an exemption or extension applies, the failure to comply with the above requirements by October 15 of the current school year will result in the student’s exclusion from school until the required health forms are presented to the District.  New students who register after October 15 of the current school year shall have 30 days following registration to comply with the health examination and immunization regulations.  If a medical reason prevents a student from receiving a required immunization by October 15, the student must present, by October 15, an immunization schedule and a statement of the medical reasons causing the delay. The schedule and statement of medical reasons must be signed by the physician, advanced practice registered nurse, physician assistant, or local health department responsible for administering the immunizations.

A student transferring from out-of-state who does not have the required proof of immunizations by October 15 may attend classes only if he or she has proof that an appointment for the required vaccinations is scheduled with a party authorized to submit proof of the required vaccinations.  If the required proof of vaccination is not submitted within 30 days after the student is permitted to attend classes, the student may no longer attend classes until proof of the vaccinations is properly submitted.

Eye Examination

Parents/guardians are encouraged to have their children undergo an eye examination whenever health examinations are required.

Parents/guardians of students entering kindergarten or an Illinois school for the first time shall present proof before October 15 of the current school year that the student received an eye examination within one year prior to entry of kindergarten or the school.  A physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches or a licensed optometrist must perform the required eye examination.

If a student fails to present proof by October 15, the school may hold the students report card until the student presents proof:  (1) of a completed eye examination, or (2) that an eye examination will take place within 60 days after October 15.  The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that parents/guardians are notified of this eye examination requirement in compliance with the rules of the IDPH.  Schools shall not exclude a student from attending school due to failure to obtain an eye examination.

Dental Examination

All children in kindergarten and the second,  sixth and ninth grades must present proof of having been examined by a licensed dentist before May 15 of the current school year in accordance with rules adopted by the IDPH.

If a child in the second, sixth, or ninth grade fails to present proof by May 15, the school may hold the child’s report card until the child presents proof:  (1) of a completed dental examination, or (2) that a dental examination will take place within 60 days after May 15.  The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that parents/guardians are notified of this dental examination requirement at least 60 days before May 15 of each school year.

Exemptions

In accordance with rules adopted by the IDPH, a student will be exempted from this policy’s requirements for:

1. Religious grounds, if the student’s parents/guardians present the IDPH’s Certificate of Religious Exemption form to the Superintendent or designee.  When a Certificate of Religious Exemption for is presented, the Superintendent or designee shall immediately inform the parents/guardians of exclusion procedures pursuant to Board policy 7:280, Communicable and Chronic Infectious Disease and State rules if there is an outbreak of one or more diseases from which the student is not protected.
2. Health examination or immunization requirements on medical grounds, if the physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant provides written verification.
3. Eye examination requirement, if the student’s parents/guardians show an undue burden or lack of access to a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches who provides eye examinations or a licensed optometrist.
4. Dental examination requirement, if the student’s parents/guardians show an undue burden or a lack of access to a dentist.

Homeless Child

Any homeless child shall be immediately admitted, even if the child or child’s parent/guardian is unable to produce immunization and health records normally required for enrollment.  School Board policy 6:140, Education of Homeless Children, governs the enrollment of homeless children.

Cross Reference: 

6:030 (Organization of Instruction), 6:140 (Education of Homeless Children), 6:180 (Extended Instructional Programs), 7:050 (School Admissions and Student Transfers To and From Non-District Schools), 7:280 (Communicable and Chronic Infectious Disease)

Legal Reference(s): 

42 U.S.C. § 11431 et seq., McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act

105 ILCS 5/27-8.1 and 45/1-20.

410 ILCS 45/7.1, Lead Poisoning Prevention Act.

410 ILCS 315/2e, Communicable Disease Prevention Act.

23 Ill. Admin. Code §1.530

77 Ill.Admin.Code Part 664, Socio-Emotional and Developmental Screening.

77 Ill.Admin.Code Part 665, Child and Student Health Examination and Immunization.

77 Ill.Admin.Code Part 690, Control of Communicable Diseases.

Date Adopted: 12/15/2009

Date Amended: July 23, 2019

Date Amended: