N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 8 § 136.3

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 45, November 2, 2024

Section 136.3 - School health services

(a)General duties of trustees and boards of education.

It shall be the duty of the trustees and boards of education:

(1) to provide and maintain a continuous program of school health services in accordance with this section;

(2) except where otherwise prohibited by law, to advise, in writing, the parent of, or other persons in parental relation to, each student in whom any aspect of the total school health program indicates such student has defective sight or hearing, or a physical disability or other condition which may require professional attention with regard to health;

(3) to provide, where the exigencies warrant, relief in situations where the student would otherwise be deprived of the full benefit of education through inability to follow the instruction offered;

(4) to maintain a program of education for the purpose of informing the school personnel, parents, non-school health agencies, welfare agencies and the general public regarding school health conditions, services and factors relating to the health of students;

(5) to provide for guidance to parents, students and teachers in procedures for preventing and correcting defects and diseases and in the general improvement of the health of students;

(6) to furnish instruction to school personnel in procedures to follow in case of accident or illness;

(7) to provide inspections and supervision of the health and safety aspects of the school plant;

(8) to provide health examinations before participation in strenuous physical activity and periodically throughout the season as necessary; and

(9) to provide health examinations necessary for the issuance of employment certificates, vacation work permits, newspaper carrier certificates and street trades badges.

(b)Examination and health history.

(1) Except in the city school district of the city of New York, it shall be the duty of the trustees and boards of education to require each student enrolled in the public school to have a satisfactory health examination conducted by a duly licensed physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner, upon the student's entrance in such school at any grade level and for each student entering pre-kindergarten or kindergarten and in the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th and 11th grades. Such examination shall be acceptable for purposes of this section if it is administered not more than 12 months prior to the commencement of the school year in which the examination is required, provided however, that for the 2020-2021 school year where a student is unable to obtain a health examination in the required grade pursuant to this paragraph due to the COVID-19 crisis, such student shall obtain such health examination by September 1, 2021.

(2) An examination and health history of any student may be required by local school authorities at any time in their discretion to promote the educational interests of such student.

(3) In all school districts, the physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner administering such examination shall determine whether a one-time test for sickle cell anemia is necessary or desirable and, if so determined, shall conduct such test and include the results in the health certificate prepared in accordance with subdivision (c) of this section, provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to require that a student be tested more than once during the period the student is eligible to attend a public school.

(c)Health certificates and proof of immunization.

(1) Health certificates. It shall be the duty of the trustees and boards of education to require that each student, within 30 days after his or her entrance into school and within 30 days after his or her entry into prekindergarten or kindergarten, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th and 11th grades, submit to the principal or the principal's designee a health certificate that meets the requirements of this paragraph, provided that no health certificate shall be required of a student for which an accommodation for religious beliefs is made pursuant to subdivision (f) of this section, provided further, however, that for the 2020-2021 school year where a student is unable to obtain a health certificate in the required grade pursuant to this paragraph due to the COVID-19 crisis, such student shall submit such health examination by September 1, 2021.

(i) The health certificate shall:

(a) be on a form prescribed the commissioner and signed by a duly licensed physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner, who is:

(1) authorized by law to practice in this State, and consistent with any applicable written practice agreement; or

(2) authorized to practice in the jurisdiction in which the examination was given, provided that the commissioner has determined that such jurisdiction has standards of licensure and practice comparable to those of New York;

(b) describe the condition of the student when the examination prescribed in subdivision (b) of this section was made, which examination shall not have been 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 pursuant to this section;

(d) state whether such student is in a fit condition of health to permit his or her attendance at the public schools and, where applicable, whether the student has defective sight or hearing, has received scoliosis screening in the grades required by subdivision (e) of this section 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 such work to prevent injury to the student;

(e) each such certificate shall also state the student's body mass index (BMI) and weight status category in accordance with Education Law section 903. F or purposes of this subdivision, BMI is computed as the weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters or the weight in pounds divided by the square of height in inches multiplied by a conversion factor of 703. Weight status categories for children and adolescents shall be as defined by the Commissioner of Health.

(ii) The health certificate shall be filed in the student's cumulative record.

(iii) The principal or the principal's designee shall send a notice to the parents of, or person in parental relationship to, any student who does not present a health certificate, unless he or she has been accommodated on grounds of religious beliefs pursuant to subdivision (f) of this section, that if the required health certificate is not furnished within 30 days from the date of such notice, an examination by health appraisal will be made of such student by the director of school health services pursuant to subdivision (d) of this section.

(2) Immunizations. It shall be the duty of the trustees and boards of education to require that every student entering or attending school provide proof of immunization against certain diseases in accordance with the provisions of Public Health Law section 2164(7)(a).

(d)Examination by health appraisal.

(1) Each principal or principal's designee shall report to the director of school health services having jurisdiction over such school, the names of all students who are required to and have not furnished health certificates pursuant to subdivision (c) of this section, or who are students with disabilities.

(2) The director of school health services shall cause such students to be separately and carefully examined and tested to ascertain whether any such student has defective sight or hearing, or 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 such work to prevent injury to the student.

(3) Each examination shall also include a calculation of the student's body mass index (BMI) and weight status category in accordance with Education Law section 904. F or purposes of this subdivision, BMI is computed as the weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters or the weight in pounds divided by the square of height in inches multiplied by a conversion factor of 703. Weight status categories for children and adolescents shall be as defined by the Commissioner of Health.

(4) In all school districts, the physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner administering such examination shall determine whether a one-time test for sickle cell anemia is necessary or desirable and, if so determined, shall conduct such test and include the results in the health certificate prepared in accordance with subdivision (c) of this section, provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to require that a student be tested more than once during the period the student is eligible to attend a public school.

(5) If it should be ascertained, upon such test or examination, that any students have defective sight or hearing, or other physical disability, including sickle cell anemia, the principal or principal's designee shall notify the student's parents or persons in parental relation as to the existence of such disability. If the parents or persons in parental relation are unable or unwilling to provide the necessary relief and treatment for such students, such fact shall be reported by the principal or principal's designee to the director of school health services, whose duty it shall be to provide relief for such students.

(e)Health screenings.

(1) It shall be the duty of trustees and boards of education to provide:

(i) scoliosis screening once each school year for male students in grade 9, and for female students in grades 5 and 7, unless the scoliosis screening is documented on the student's health certificate. Such screening shall include the examination of the student's unclothed back while bending forward at the waist, including the cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral vertebral segments by viewing from the front, back and sides under adequate illumination and observing the existing range of motion of the spine in all directions. Such screening shall be provided by licensed health professionals with appropriate training, including, but not limited to, a registered professional nurse, a school nurse teacher, a nurse practitioner, a physician assistant, a physical therapist, or a physician. The positive results of any such screening examinations for the presence of scoliosis shall be in writing and the parent of, or person in parental relation to, any student in whom the presence of scoliosis is found shall be advised of such results by the school authorities within 90 days after such finding. The requirements of this subparagraph relating to examination for scoliosis may be waived by the commissioner upon the filing with the commissioner of a resolution, duly adopted by a board of education following a public hearing on such proposed resolution, stating that the school district does not have the capability to comply with this subparagraph relative to the examination for scoliosis and that such compliance would place a financial burden upon the school district. The district shall provide, in addition to the resolution, the date of the public hearing, a report of the findings from the hearing. The resolution shall be filed no later than October 1st of each school year. A waiver of this requirement by the commissioner shall be valid for one school year;

(ii) vision screening, if not documented on the health certificate, to all students who enroll in a school of this State including at a minimum color perception, distance acuity, and near vision within six months of admission to the school; in addition, all students shall be screened for distance acuity and near vision in grades pre-kindergarten or kindergarten, 1, 3, 5, 7 and 11 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.

(iii) hearing screening, if not documented on the health certificate to all students within six months of admission to the school and in grades pre-kindergarten or kindergarten, 1, 3, 5, 7 and 11, and at any other time deemed necessary; such screening shall include, but not be limited to, pure tone screening; the results of any such hearing tests requiring a follow up examination 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.

(2) The results of all health screenings (dental, hearing, vision and scoliosis) shall be recorded in the student's cumulative health record which shall be maintained by 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. The trustees or board of education shall ensure that the health professional making the examination shall sign the cumulative health record and make appropriate recommendations.

(3) The hearing, vision, and scoliosis screenings required pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subdivision shall be waived for the 2020-21 school year due to the COVID-19 crisis, unless such screening has otherwise been deemed necessary.

(f)Accommodation for religious beliefs.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, no health examinations, health history, examinations for health appraisal, screening examinations for sickle cell anemia and/or other health screenings shall be required where a student or the parent or person in parental relation to such student objects thereto on the grounds that such 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 such person holds such beliefs shall be submitted to the principal or the principal's designee in which case the principal or principal's designee may require supporting documents.

(g)Student health records.

The health records of individual students shall be kept confidential in accordance with the Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and any other applicable Federal and State laws.

(h)Exclusion from school of student with communicable disease.

Whenever, upon investigation and evaluation by the director of school health services, or the school nurse, nurse practictioner, or physician assistant acting upon direction or referral of such director for assessment, care and treatment, 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, he or she shall be excluded from the school and sent home immediately, in a safe and proper conveyance. The director of school health services may examine any student returning to school following an absence due to illness or unknown cause, who is without a certificate from a local public health officer, a duly licensed physician, physician assistant or a nurse practitioner, to determine that such student does not pose a threat to the school community.

(i)Health examination of employees and school premises.

To protect students and staff from communicable diseases, the director of school health services, a registered professional nurse, nurse practitioner or physician assistant acting upon direction or referral of such director, may make such assessments of teachers and any other school employees, school buildings and premises as, in their discretion, they may deem necessary.

(j)Condom availability.

Boards of education or trustees that elect to make condoms available to pupils as part of its program of school health services shall assure that adequate personal health guidance is provided to each pupil receiving condoms in the manner prescribed by section 135.3(c)(2)(ii) of this Title.

(k)Dental health certificates.

(1) It shall be the duty of the trustees and boards of education to request that each student, within 30 days after such student's entrance into school and within 30 days after such student's entry into the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th grades, submit to the principal or the principal's designee a dental health certificate that meets the requirements of this subdivision; provided that no dental health certificate shall be requested of a student for which an accommodation for religious beliefs is made pursuant to subdivision (f) of this section.

(i) The dental health certificate shall:

(a) be signed by a duly licensed dentist or a registered dental hygienist who is:

(1) authorized by law to practice in this State, and consistent with any applicable written practice agreement; or

(2) authorized to practice in the jurisdiction in which the assessment was given, provided that the commissioner has determined that such jurisdiction has standards of licensure and practice comparable to those of New York;

(b) describe the dental health condition of the student when the assessment was made, which assessment shall not have been given more than 12 months prior to the commencement of the school year in which the assessment is requested; and

(c) state whether such student is in fit condition of dental health to permit his or her attendance at the public schools.

(ii) Within 30 days after the student's entrance in such school or grades, the dental health certificate, if obtained, shall be filed in the student's cumulative health record.

(2) An examination and dental health history of any child may be requested by the local school authorities at any time in their discretion to promote the educational interests of such child.

(3) It shall be the duty of the trustees and boards of education to ensure that a notice of request for dental health certificates be distributed at the same time that parents of, or persons in parental relationship to, students are notified of health examination requirements. The notice shall include a statement that a list of dental practices, dentists and registered dental hygienists to which children may be referred for dental services on a free or reduced cost basis is available upon request at the child's schools. Such list shall be as prescribed by the commissioner and shall be made available by school districts to parents or persons in parental relationship upon request.

N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 8 § 136.3

Amended New York State Register August 2, 2017 /Volume XXXIX, Issue 31, eff. 7/1/2018

Amended New York State Register December 30, 2020/Volume XLII, Issue 52, eff. 12/30/2020

Amended New York State Register September 29, 2021/Volume XLIII, Issue 39, eff. 9/29/2021