Question:  Why do I receive the error message, "Field Value cannot be less than 5", on the WSC Survey or the Obesity-Related Health Conditions Survey?

Answer: 

• You will receive the above error message if you enter a 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4 in any of the WSC or Obesity-Related conditions fields.  If the number of students in a WSC or heatlh condition field is less than five, you must leave the field blank.  Numbers in these fields must be greater than or equal to five to protect student confidentiality and maintain compliance with FERPA.
• Numbers less than five can be reported for the following fields on the WSC Survey:
  • "How many boys or girls are in this grade?"
  • "How many boys or girls are missing information?"
  • "How many parents requested that their child's data be excluded from the survey for this grade and sex?"

Question: Where do I call when I need assistance with the Student Weight Status Category Reporting?

Answer: 

• For questions related to nursing practice - call our Center at 585-349-7631 or 585-349-7630.
• For general questions about how to tally data, what data to submit or more information, please call 518-408-5126.
• For questions or difficulties logging onto the Health Provider Network or problems with your account or password, contact the Commerce Accounts Management Unit (CAMU) at 1-866-529-1890.

Question:  What happens if a student's private healthcare provider doesn't return the health certificate form or if it is incomplete?  Who is responsible for determining the BMI and Weight Status Category (WSC)?

Answer: 

• If the parent fails to provide the required health certificate, the information should be added as part of the school health appraisal conducted under local district policy.  If the health certificate is incomplete, it would be advisable for the school nurse to return a copy of the form to the family for the family's healthcare provider to complete.
• If the health certificate is not returned or is returned but does not contain the weight status category, then the student's weight status category should be tallied under the "missing" category.

Question:  What is the nurses' role in calculating Body Mass Index (BMI) and determining the weight status category (WSC) (based on BMI-for-age percentile)?

Answer: 

• The amendment to Education Law Sections 903 and 904 was written to incorporate BMI and WSC determination as part of the health certificate or health appraisal.  Only the school medical director can perform and complete the health appraisal, and only a student's healthcare provider may perform and complete a health certificate.
• For health appraisals completed at the school, a medical director may choose to have a written policy stating that the school nurses in his/her district can perform the height and weight measurement, calculate the BMI and determine the WSC.  The school nurse may write these on the health certificate for the provider if requested.  However, it is the responsibility of the medical director to interpret the WSC and what effect it may have on the student's health.  By signing the health appraisal form, the medical director is taking responsibility for the information on the form and is ensuring that any identified health problems are reported to the parent to arrange for follow-up.
• A health certificate completed by a private healthcare provider must include the BMI and WSC information.  A school nurse may not just fill in the missing BMI and WSC information.

Question:  Does the legislation require that BMI or weight status data be reported to parents/guardians?

Answer:  The new legislation does not require reporting of BMI or WSC to parents/guardians.  BMI and WSC are to be added to the Student Health Certificate/Appraisal required by NYS Education Law Sections 903 and 904.  It is the responsibility of the healthcare provider who conducts the health examination to interpret the weight status category for each student and his/her parents/guardians as part of routine preventive care, and to provide counseling, follow-up and referral as indicated.

Question:  How should parent/guardians be informed if a weight issue is identified during a health examination at school?

Answer:  If a concern about a student's weight status is identified during the health examination performed at school, it should be handled in the same manner as other health concerns identified during the health appraisal.

 

Question: Do any of the available growth charts note the 99th percentile when looking at student weight status category?

Answer:  At this time, growth charts do not note the 99th percentile.  A chart that defines the BMI percentile for the 99th percentile and above is available in our SN Tool Kit as the SN Tool of the Week, or on our State Reporting Page on Student Weight Status Category Reporting.

The tool is titled "BMI Percentile Category, 99th and Above".