School Health Requirements
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What health forms are required for school?
So you landed your dream job as a school nurse—now what? One of your first tasks will be gathering and reviewing all your students’ state-required health forms. These usually include physical exams, dental exams, and eye exams. Each state sets its own requirements, so check with your state department of health for specifics. Most of these forms are completed by a licensed provider outside school and then submitted to you. But why?
History of School Health Forms
Since the late 1800s, school nurses have promoted health for students, families, staff, and communities. Requesting, tracking, and managing student health records helps ensure students are healthy and ready to learn. Though this can feel overwhelming, it’s essential, especially to know which students have ongoing health conditions or require medications.
Why are health forms required for school?
Parents and students often ask why these forms are necessary. The short answer: meeting health requirements protects not only the individual student but also the entire student body by helping schools monitor and prevent disease spread.
These requirements are backed by state laws and district policies, which give school nurses the authority to enforce compliance and follow up as needed.
Handling Non-Compliance
If families don’t submit required forms, it’s important to have a clear follow-up process. This might include reminder letters, phone calls, or working with school administrators to ensure compliance. Some districts have specific procedures or consequences for missing documentation, so be sure to familiarize yourself with your school’s policies.
Staying Organized with Required School Health Forms
Find out your state’s specific requirements and create a plan to track compliance. For me, that means using a Google Sheet alongside Skyward reports. I also keep non-compliant health charts in a labeled plastic banker’s box for quick access.
What works for one nurse might not work for another—try different systems until you find what fits your style and your school’s needs. Pre-COVID, I consistently reached 100% compliance; the pandemic has complicated things, but persistence is key. Check out this DOASN blog post on organizing school health charts HERE.
Protecting Confidentiality
Remember to protect student health information by following HIPAA and FERPA guidelines. Keep records secure and only share health information with authorized staff or parents.
Tips for Efficiency
Using Google Email Templates has been a huge time saver for me when contacting families. (Check out my Email Template Wording Available on TpT.)
Collaboration Is Key
Don’t go it alone! Work closely with your office staff, administrators, and families to streamline collecting and managing health forms.
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ILLINOIS REFERENCES:
Illinois General Assembly (Full Article)
https://ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=010500050K27-8.1
Illinois General Assembly Codes (Child Health Examination Code, 77 Ill. Adm. Code 665) https://www.ilga.gov/commission/jcar/admincode/077/07700665sections.html
Illinois State Board of Education: Health Requirements
https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Health-Requirements-Student-Health-Data.aspx
Each state has rules listing the minimum health requirements students must meet in order to attend school. Try searching your state + school health requirements to locate your specific state school health requirements.
OTHER REFERENCES:
2015 DOASN Lillian Wald Blog Post: http://diaryofaschoolnurse.blogspot.com/search?q=lillian+wald
Complete List of Department of State Health Websites: https://www.cdc.gov/publichealthgateway/healthdirectories/healthdepartments.html
Lillian Wald - Henry Street Settlement https://www.henrystreet.org/about/our-history/lillian-wald/
NASN School Health Documentation https://www.nasn.org/nasn/nasn-resources/professional-topics/school-health-documentation
NCSL State Vaccination Policies: Requirements and Exemptions for Entering School https://www.ncsl.org/research/health/state-vaccination-policies-requirements-and-exemptions-for-entering-school.aspx
Schools & Health: Our Nation's Investment https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK232693/
State School Nurse Associations
https://www.nasn.org/nasn/about-nasn/affiliates
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