Policy 5691 – Communicable Diseases

Whenever, upon investigation and evaluation by the Director of School Health Services or other health professionals acting upon direction or referral of the Director, a student in the public schools shows symptoms of any communicable or infectious disease reportable under the public health law that imposes a significant risk of infection of others in the school, that student shall be excluded from the school and sent home immediately. The Director of School Health Services will immediately notify a local public health agency of the disease.

Following absence on account of illness or from unknown cause, the Director of School Health Services may examine each student returning to a school without a certificate from a local public Health Officer, a duly licensed physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner.

The Director of School Health Services, or other health professionals acting upon direction or referral of the Director, may make evaluations of teachers and any other school employees, school buildings and premises as, in their discretion, they may deem necessary to protect the health of the students and staff.

Regulations and procedures will be developed for dealing with communicable diseases in ways that protect the health of both students and staff while minimizing the disruption of the education process.

Education Law Section 906
8 NYCRR Sections 136.3(h) and 136.3(i)

Adopted: 02/09/06
Revised: 11/17/22