School Health Services:

Guidelines / Memos / Laws

Updated Legislative and Regulatory Information:

Nebulizer Bill - new law

• The nebulizer bill will take effect as funding becomes available.  Regulations and guidance will be provided at that time.

Anaphylaxis Management

"Caring for Students with Life-Threatening Allergies" - This manual was developed by the NYS Department of Health, NYS Education Department and the NY Statewide School Health Services Center.  It addresses the care of students with life threatening allergies and is available to school districts for development of the mandatory school district policies relating to anaphylaxis.

Child Abuse

Social Services Law - Title 6, Section 413 - Persons and officials required to report cases of suspected child abuse or maltreatment.

• FAQ's for Mandated Reporters
• Safety Factors Guide Pub. 5079
• Recognizing & Reporting Child Abuse & Neglect: Questions Often Asked (PDF) - Prevent Child Abuse New York
• Summary Guide for Mandated Reporters in New York State Pub. 1159
• SAY NO! Protecting Children Against Sexual Abuse Pub. 1154
• Are You Carrying a Secret? Pub. 4745
• The Abandoned Infant Protection Act: Guidelines for Health and Safety Professionals Pub. 4759
• Child Abuse Reporting Form

Communicable Diseases

"Control of Communicable Disease in the School Setting" - Currently under review/revision by NYSED.  In the interim, please refer to:

• http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/children/index.htm
• http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/communicable_diseases/en/

Defibrillators

Public Access Defibrillation in Schools

Dental Health Certificates

Recommended Dental Certificate

Emergency Procedures

"Emergency Procedures in the School Setting" - Currently under review/revision by NYSED.  Please refer to other available resources during this interim period:

• http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/schoolhealth/chap9.pdf
• Emergency Guidelines for Schools - American Academy of Pediatrics, Ohio Chapter

FERPA

FERPA- Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act - Federal Law

HIPAA

HIPAA -  Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act

• HIPAA: NYS Immunization Information System & Federal Health Insurance Portability & Accountability ACT Privacy Rule - April 2003
• Privacy Standards for Student Health Records (Issue Brief from the National Association of School Nurses)

Health Appraisals

Health Appraisals Guidelines - NYSED - New grade levels are outlined in the amended Commissioner's Regulations found at the top of this page.

• Health Appraisal Form - Recommended

  • Health Appraisal Form - Recommended -Customizable
  • Health Appraisal Form - Recommended (no shading)
  • Health Appraisal - Recommended-Monroe County Medical Society (can be completed electronically)
• Updated Information Regarding Sports Physicals - Memo (Dec 2000)
• NYS Selection/Classification Program for Interschool Athletic Programs-Revised March 2005
• Body Mass Index Screening and Reporting: Subdivision 1 of Section 903 - Education Law of 2004 - amended as of 4/07
• Application for Employment Certificate - Revised 1/10

Health, Dental & Mental Health Clinics

Health, Dental & Mental Health Clinics Located on School Property (Chapter 513 amended Section 414 of Education Law) - September 2005 - Memo from James Kadamus

Immunizations

The Immunization Guidelines are currently undergoing REVIEW/REVISION.  During this interim period, please refer to the documents below:

• NEW - Immunization Recommendations for Children and Adolescents Displaced by the January 12, 2010 Earthquake in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
• New York State Immunization Requirements for School Entrance/Attendance -updated 2/10
• Varicella Tetanus Pertussis Amendment - Memo (Dec 2004)

• Religious Exemptions to Immunizations:

• Memo for Dr. James Butterworth, Assistant Commissioner, Office of School Improvement: School District Procedures for Implementing Requests for Religious Exemption to Immunization
• School District Procedures
• Form: Request for Religious Exemption to Immunization Form
• Immunization Educational Materials for Parents Requesting Religious Exemptions
• NYSDOH Public Health Law Section 2164(7)(a) - Law related to immunization requirements for school entry
• NYSDOH Immunization Requirements for School Entry Memo (Sept 2004)
• Immunizations: Clarification about Administering Immunizations and Anaphylactic Agents by Registered Professional Nurses using Non-Patient Specific Orders and Protocols (October 2001)
• Translation of Vaccine-Related Terms

Medications

Administration of Medication in the School Setting  Guidelines - Updated April 2002

*New* - Administration of Medications to Students During School-Sponsored Events by Parent/Guardian Designee - Memo from the NYS Education Department

• Sample Form - Parent/Guardian Authorization for Another Adult for Administration of Medication

Clarification on Field Trip Medication Memo

 

?       The intent of the memo is to allow a parent to choose another person to act in their place at a school event for the purpose of administering a medication to their child.  A parent has always been allowed to administer medication to their own child at school regardless of whether or not the student is self-directed or non-self directed.

?       This is VOLUNTARY for parents, a parent may not be required to designate a family member or friend to administer medication to their child at a school event.  If the parent chooses not to designate someone to administer the medication, and the student is not self-directed, then a nurse will still need to attend the field trip to administer medication to a non self-directed student.

?       Willing, trained school personnel may still assist a self-directed student in taking their own medication on a field trip.  This does not negate the Medication Guidelines; it only adds one more option for a parent to allow someone to act in their place at a school event or field trip.

?       If the parent designates someone to give a medication on a field trip, ideally the parent should provide the medication to the designee.

?       This memo does not alter previous guidance allowing willing, trained school personnel to administer emergency epinephrine or glucagon.  

?       Diastat may be given by the parent or the designee but not by unlicensed school personnel, unless the staff member is truly a friend, and the parent has returned the completed permission form naming that staff member as the designee. 

?       The intent of this memo is not to have a school staff member named the designee for a group of students because of safety concerns.

?       This does apply to overnight and extended field trips.  The parent should provide the medication to the designee. School personnel, again, are not intended to act as the designee for numerous students.

• Medication Disposal Recommendations
• Training of Unlicensed Individuals in the Injection of Glucagon in Emergency Situations - Memo (March 2004)
• Use of Epinephrine Auto-Injector Devices in the School Setting - Memo  (June 2002)
• Clarification about Administering Immunizations and Anaphylactic Agents by Registered Professional Nurses using Non-Patient Specific Orders & Protocols (Oct 3, 2001)
• New Provisions of Law Concerning the Administration of Immunizations & Anaphylactic Agents by Registered Professional Nurses Utilizing Non-Patient Specific Orders & Protocols - Memo (Feb 27, 2001)

• Blood Glucose Monitoring - EMSC School Executive's Bulletin (Jan 2001)

School Nurses/Nursing Tasks

Provision of Nursing Tasks & Health-Related Activities in the School Setting for Students with Special Health Care Needs (March 1995)

• Questions & Answers on The Provision of Nursing Tasks & Health-Related Activities in the School Setting for Students with Special Health Care Needs (March 1998)
• Use of Licensed Practical Nurses & the Term "School Nurse in the School Settings (NYSED Memo - October 27, 2004
• The Differentiated Scope of Practice of Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and Registered Professional Nurses (RNs)

Screening Guidelines

Hearing Screening Guidelines 2008

• Sample Hearing Screening Referral Form
• Sample Audiometric and Medical Findings Form
• Pure Tone Air Conduction (Sweep Test) Sample Procedure
• Pure Tone Threshold Screening Sample Procedure
• Hearing Screening Overview Sheet
• Hearing Screening Algorithm

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Vision Screening Guidelines

NOTE: The Commissioner's Regulations, dated September 29, 2005, reflect the following changes:

• New York State Education Law (Article 19, Section 905) and the Commissioner's Regulations, Section 136.3 requires that a vision screening be done for all students who enroll in a school of this state including at a minimum color perception, distance acuity, near vision and hyperopia within six months of admission to the school;  in addition, all students shall be screened for distance acuity in grades Kindergarten, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 10 and at any other time deemed necessary; the results of all such vision screening examinations shall be in writing and shall be provided to the pupil's parent or person in parental relation and to any teacher of the pupil within the school while the pupil is enrolled in the school, and shall be kept in a permanent file of the school for at least as long as the minimum retention period for such records, as prescribed by the commissioner pursuant to Article 57-A of the Arts and Cultural Affairs Law; 

Please refer to the Commissioner's Regulations for other applicable information. Vision Screening Guidelines will be revised in the near future.

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Scoliosis Screening Guidelines

NOTE: The Commissioner's Regulations, dated September 29, 2005, reflect the following changes:

• Education Law, Article 19, Section 905 and the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, Sections 136.1 and 136.3, require schools to provide scoliosis screening at least once in each school year for all students in grades 5 through 9.  The regulations define what is meant by scoliosis screening and require that such screening be provided by persons with appropriate training.  Both law and regulation permit parents a religious exemption from scoliosis screening for their child. 

Please refer to the Commissioner's Regulations for other applicable information. Scoliosis Screening Guidelines will be revised in the near future.

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