Policy Tool | District Policies

Print

5141.1(R)ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS REGARDING HEALTH ASSESSMENTS/SCREENINGS

  1. Assessments

 

The Meriden Board of Education requires each student enrolled in the Meriden Public Schools to have health assessments as mandated by state law. The purpose of such health assessments shall be to ascertain whether a student has any physical disability tending to prevent him/her from receiving the full benefit of school work and to ascertain whether school work should be modified in order to prevent injury to the student or to secure a suitable program of education for him/her.  Such health assessments must be conducted by a legally qualified practitioner of medicine, an advanced practice registered nurse or registered nurse, who is licensed under state statute, a physician assistant, who is licensed under state statute, the school medical advisor, or a legally qualified practitioner of medicine, an advanced practice registered nurse or a physician assistant stationed at any military base.  The Board of Education will provide written prior notice of the health assessments required under these administrative regulations to the parent or guardian of each student subject to assessment.  The parent or guardian shall be provided a reasonable opportunity to be present during such assessment or he/she may provide for such assessment him/herself.  No health assessment shall be made of any public school student unless it is made in the presence of the parent or guardian or in the presence of another school employee. Any student who fails to obtain the health assessments required by these administrative regulations may be denied continued attendance in the Meriden Public Schools.

 

II. Assessments Required:

 

Prior to enrollment in the Meriden Public Schools, each student must undergo a health assessment, which shall include:

 

(a) a physical examination which includes hematocrit or hemoglobin tests, height, weight, blood pressure, and a chronic disease assessment which shall include; but not be limited to, asthma as defined by the Commissioner of Public Health pursuant to subsection (c) of section 19a-62a of the Connecticut General Statutes.  The assessment form shall include (A) a check box for the provider conducting the assessment, to indicate an asthma diagnosis, (B) screening questions relating to appropriate public health concerns to be answered by the parent or guardian, and (C) screening questions to be answered by such provider;

 

(b) an updating of immunizations as required by state law;

 

(c) vision, hearing, speech and gross dental screenings;

 

(d) such other information, including health and developmental history, as the physician feels is necessary and appropriate.

The pre-enrolment assessment shall also include tests for tuberculosis, sickle cell anemia or Cooley’s anemia, and tests for lead levels in the blood if, after consultation with the school medical advisor and the local health department, the Board determines that such tests are necessary.  Such tests must be conducted by a registered nurse acting pursuant to the written order of a physician, or physician’s assistant, licensed under state law, or an advanced practice registered nurse, licensed under state law.

 

Each student enrolled in the Meriden Public Schools in grade six or seven and in grade nine or ten must undergo a health assessment, which shall include:

 

(a) a physical examination which includes hematocrit or hemoglobin tests, height, weight, blood pressure, and a chronic disease assessment which shall include; but not be limited to, asthma as defined by the Commissioner of Public Health pursuant to subsection (c) of section 19a-62a of the Connecticut General Statutes.  The assessment form shall include (A) a check box for the provider conducting the assessment, to indicate an asthma diagnosis, (B) screening questions relating to appropriate public health concerns to be answered by the parent or guardian, and (C) screening questions to be answered by such provider;

 

(b) an updating of immunizations as required by state law;

 

(c) vision, hearing, postural and gross dental screenings;

 

(d) such other information, including health and developmental history, as the physician feels is necessary and appropriate.

The grade six/seven and grade nine/ten assessments shall also include tests for tuberculosis, and sickle cell anemia or Cooley’s anemia, if, after consultation with the school medical advisor and the local health department, the Board determines that such tests are necessary.  Such tests must be conducted by a registered nurse acting pursuant to the written order of a physician, or physician’s assistant, licensed under state law, or of an advanced practice registered nurse, licensed under state law.

 

The Board of Education shall provide such assessments free of charge to students whose parents or guardians meet the eligibility requirements for free and reduced price meals under the National School Lunch Program or for free milk under the special milk program.



III. Screenings Required:

 

The Board of Education will provide annually to each student enrolled in kindergarten and grades one and three to five, inclusive, a vision screening using a Snellen chart or equivalent screening.  The Superintendent shall give written notice to the parent or guardian of each student (1) who is found to have any defect of vision or disease of the eyes, with a brief statement describing the defect or disease, and (2) who did not receive such vision screening, with a brief statement explaining why such pupil did not receive such vision screening.

 

The Board of Education will provide annually to each student enrolled in kindergarten and grades one and three through five, inclusive, audiometric screening for hearing. The Superintendent shall give written notice to the parent or guardian of each student (1) who is found to have any impairment or defect of hearing, with a brief statement describing the impairment or defect, and (2) who did not receive an audiometric screening for hearing, with a brief statement explaining why such student did not receive an audiometric screening for hearing.

 

The Board of Education will provide postural screenings for (1) each female student in grades five and seven, and (2) each male student in grade eight or nine.  The Superintendent shall give written notice to the parent or guardian of each student (A) who evidences any postural problem, with a brief statement describing such evidence, and (B) who did not receive a postural screening, with a brief statement explaining why such student did not receive such postural screening.

 

All of the screenings required under these administrative regulations will be performed in accordance with regulations applicable to such screenings as adopted by the State Board of Education.  

 

  1. Assessment/Screening Results:

 

The results of each assessment and screening required by these administrative regulations shall be recorded on forms supplied by the State Board of Education.  Each physician, advanced practice registered nurse, registered nurse, or physician assistant performing health assessments under these administrative regulations shall sign each form and any recommendations concerning a student shall be in writing.  Assessment/screening forms shall be included in the cumulative health record of each student and they shall be kept on file in the school attended by the student.  If a student transfers to another school district in Connecticut, his/her original cumulative health record shall be sent to the chief administrative officer of the new school district and a true copy retained by the [       ] Board of Education.  For a student leaving Connecticut, a copy of the records, if requested, should be sent and the original maintained.  

 

Appropriate school health personnel shall review the results of each assessment and screening.  If the reviewing school health personnel judge that a student is in need of further testing or treatment, the Superintendent shall give written notice to the parent or guardian of such student and shall make reasonable efforts to ensure that such further testing or treatment is provided.  Reasonable efforts shall include determination of whether the parent or guardian has obtained the necessary testing or treatment for the student, and, if not, advising the parent or guardian how such testing or treatment may be obtained.  The results of such further testing or treatment shall be recorded, kept on file and reviewed by appropriate school health personnel in the same manner as the results of the health assessments and screenings required under these administrative regulations.

 

  1. Exemption

 

Nothing in these administrative regulations shall be construed to require any student to undergo a physical or medical examination or treatment, or be compelled to receive medical instruction, if the parent or legal guardian of such student or the student, if he/she is an emancipated minor or is eighteen (18) years of age or older, notifies the teacher or principal or other person in charge of such student in writing that he/she objects on religious grounds to such physical or medical examination or treatment or medical instruction.



  1. Other Non-Emergency Invasive Physical Examinations and Screenings:

 

  1. In addition to the screenings listed above, the district may, from time to time, require students to undergo additional non-emergency, invasive physical examination(s)/screening(s).

 

  1. A non-emergency, invasive physical examination or screening is defined as:

 

  1. any medical examination that involves the exposure of private body parts; or

 

  1. any act during such examination that includes incision, insertion, or injection into the body, but does not include a hearing, vision, or scoliosis screening; and

 

  1. is required as a condition of attendance, administered by the school and scheduled by the school in advance; and

 

  1. is not necessary to protect the immediate health and safety of the students.

 

(c) If the district elects to conduct any such examinations, then, at the beginning of the school year, the administration shall give direct notice to parents of affected students of the district's intent to conduct the non-emergency invasive physical examination(s) and/or screening(s) described in this subsection.  Such notice shall include the specific or approximate dates during the school year of the administration of such non-emergency invasive physical examination(s)/screening(s).

 

(d) Upon request, the administration shall permit parents or students over the age of eighteen (18) (or emancipated minors) to opt out of participation in the non-emergency invasive physical examination(s)/screening(s) described in this subparagraph.  

 

VII. School Representative to Receive Information Concerning Health Assessments:

 

The Board of Education designates [insert name of responsible staff member] as the representative for receipt of reports from health care providers concerning student health assessments.



Legal References:

Connecticut General Statutes

  • 10-206 Health assessments
  • 10-206a Free health assessments
  • 10-208 Exemption from examination or treatment
  • 10-214 Vision, audiometric and postural

screenings: When required; notification of parents re defects; record of results

Public Act 15-215, “An Act Concerning Various Revisions and Additions to the Education Statutes.”

 

Federal Law:

 

Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, Public Law 107-110, § 1061, codified at 20 U.S.C. § 1232h.

 

State of Connecticut Department of Education, Bureau of School, Family, Community Partnerships, Cumulative Health Records Guidelines (2003).




November 17, 2015

Previous Policy Number: