Policy 7512 – Student Physicals
Health Examination
Each student enrolled in a District school must have a satisfactory health examination conducted by a duly licensed physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner within 12 months prior to the commencement of the school year of the student’s entrance into:
a) A District school at any grade level;
b) Prekindergarten or kindergarten; and
c) 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, and 11th grades.
The District may also require an examination and health history of a student when it is determined by the District that it would promote the educational interests of the student.
The District will also provide health examinations before participation in strenuous physical activity and periodically throughout the season as necessary, as well as for the issuance of employment certificates, vacation work permits, newspaper carrier certificates, and street trades badges.
Health Certificate
Each student must submit a health certificate attesting to the health examination within 30 calendar days after their entrance into:
a) A District school at any grade level;
b) Prekindergarten or kindergarten; and
c) 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, and 11th grades.
If a student does not submit the required health certificate within 30 calendar days after their entrance, the building principal or designee will send a notice to the student’s parent or person in parental relation stating that if the required health certificate is not submitted within 30 calendar days from the date of the notice, the Director of School Health Services will conduct an examination by health appraisal of the student.
The health certificate will be filed in the student’s cumulative record. The health certificate must:
a) Be on a form prescribed by the Commissioner;
b) Describe the condition of the student when the examination was given, provided that such examination was not given more than 12 months prior to the commencement of the school year in which the examination is required;
c) State the results of any test conducted on the student for sickle cell anemia;
d) State whether the student is in a fit condition of health to permit their attendance at a District school and, where applicable, whether the student has impaired sight or hearing, has received a scoliosis screening, or has any other physical disability which may tend to prevent the student from receiving the full benefit of school work or from receiving the best educational results, or which may require a modification of work to prevent injury to the student;
e) State the student’s body mass index (BMI) and weight status category; and
f) Be signed by a duly licensed physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner, who is:
- Authorized by law to practice in New York State consistent with any applicable written practice agreement; or
- Authorized to practice in the jurisdiction in which the examination was given, provided that the Commissioner has determined that the jurisdiction has standards of licensure and practice comparable to those of New York State.
A licensed health professional with appropriate training may conduct a scoliosis screening and vision and hearing screenings.
Dental Health Certificate
The District will request a dental health certificate from each student at the same time that health certificates are required.
The District may also request an assessment and dental health history of a student when it is determined by the District that it would promote the educational interests of the student.
A notice of request for a dental health certificate will be distributed at the same time that the parent or person in parental relation is notified of health examination requirements. The notice of request for a dental health certificate will list dental practices, dentists, and registered dental hygienists to which students may be referred for dental services on a free or reduced cost basis upon request of the student’s school.
The dental health certificate will be filed in the student’s cumulative record. The dental health certificate must:
a) Describe the dental health condition of the student when the assessment was given, provided that the assessment was not given more than 12 months prior to the commencement of the school year in which the assessment is requested; and
b) State whether the student is in fit condition of dental health to permit their attendance at a District school; and
c) Be signed by a duly licensed dentist, or a registered dental hygienist, who is:
- Authorized by law to practice in New York State, and consistent with any applicable written practice agreement; or
- Authorized to practice in the jurisdiction in which the assessment was performed, provided that the Commissioner has determined that the jurisdiction has standards of licensure and practice comparable to New York State.
Examination by Health Appraisal
The building principal or designee will report to the Director of School Health Services the names of all students who are required to and have not submitted the required health certificate or who are students with disabilities. The Director of School Health Services will separately and carefully examine and test students who are required to and have not submitted, the required health certificate and students with disabilities to determine whether any student has impaired sight or hearing, or any other physical disability which may prevent the student from receiving the full benefit of school work or from receiving the best educational results, or which may require a modification of work to prevent injury to the student.
Each examination will also include a calculation of the student’s BMI and weight status category. Further, the physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner administering the examination will determine whether a one-time test for sickle cell anemia is necessary or desirable and, if so determined, will conduct the test and include the results in the health certificate.
Unless prohibited by law, if it is determined that a student has impaired sight or hearing, or other physical disability or other condition, including sickle cell anemia, the building principal or designee will notify, in writing, the student’s parent or person in parental relation as to the existence of the disability. If the parent or person in parental relation is unable or unwilling to provide the necessary relief and treatment for the student, it will be reported by the building principal or designee to the Director of School Health Services, who then has the duty to provide relief for the student.
District Reporting of BMI and Weight Status Category
Each school year, the New York State Department of Health randomly selects a certain number of districts across New York State to report, in the aggregate, students’ BMI and weight status categories. Selected districts must report this information online. A student’s parent or person in parental relation may refuse to have the student’s BMI and weight status category included in this survey and an opt-form will be made available on the district website.
Lead Screenings
Prior to or within three months after initial enrollment of a student under six years old, the District will obtain from the student’s parent or person in parental relation evidence that the student has been screened for lead. If the District does not receive evidence that the student has been screened for lead, the District will provide the student’s parent or person in parental relation with information on lead poisoning in children and lead poisoning prevention, as well as refer the parent or person in parental relation to a primary care provider or the local health authority for a blood lead test.
Health Screenings
The District will provide a:
a) Scoliosis screening, if not documented on the student’s health certificate, at least once each school year for male students in grade 9, and for female students in grades 5 and 7. The positive results of any scoliosis screening examination will be provided in writing to the student’s parent or person in parental relation within 90 calendar days after the finding;
b) Vision screening, if not documented on the student’s health certificate, to all students within six months of admission to a District school. The vision screening will test the student’s color perception, distance acuity, and near vision. In addition, all students will be screened for distance acuity and near vision in grades prekindergarten or kindergarten, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 11, as well as at any other time deemed necessary. The results of all vision screening examinations will be provided in writing to the student’s parent or person in parental relation and to any teacher of the student while the student is enrolled in the District school; and
c) Hearing screening, if not documented on the student’s health certificate, to all students within six months of admission to a District school. In addition, all students will receive a hearing screening in grades prekindergarten or kindergarten, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 11, as well as at any other time deemed necessary. Each hearing screening will include, but not be limited to, pure tone screening. The results of any hearing tests requiring a follow-up examination will be provided in writing to the student’s parent or person in parental relation and to any teacher of the student while the student is enrolled in the District school.
The results of all health screenings will be recorded in the student’s cumulative health record which will be maintained by the school for at least as long as the minimum retention period for these records.
Student Health Records
The health records of individual students will be kept confidential in accordance with the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and any other applicable federal and state laws.
Accommodation for Religious Beliefs
No health examinations, health history, examinations for health appraisal, screening examinations for sickle cell anemia and/or other health screenings will be required where a student or the parent or person in parental relation to that student objects on the grounds that the examinations, health history, and/or screenings conflict with their genuine and sincere religious beliefs. A written and signed statement from the student or the student’s parent or person in parental relation that the person holds these beliefs must be submitted to the building principal or designee, in which case they may require supporting documents.
Students in Temporary Housing
For students in temporary housing (i.e., homeless children and youth), the enrolling school must immediately refer the parent or guardian of the student to the District’s McKinney-Vento liaison, who will assist them in obtaining the necessary medical records.
20 USC Section 1232g
Education Law Sections 903, 904, 905, and 3220
Public Health Law Section 1370-d
8 NYCRR Sections 136.1 and 136.3
NOTE: Refer also to Policies
#5690 — Exposure Control Program
#5691 — Communicable Diseases
#5692 — Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Related Illnesses
#7121 — Diagnostic Screening of Students
#7131 — Education of Students in Temporary Housing
#7250 — Student Privacy, Parental Access to Information, and
Administration of Certain Physical Examinations to Minors
#7420 — Sports and the Athletic Program
#7510 — School Health Services
#7511 — Immunization of Students
#7522 — Concussion Management
Adopted: 4/25/01
Revised: 04/05/06
Revised: 09/21/17
Revised: 04/09/20
Revised: 03/16/23