School Health Information

Mandated Services:

To help you keep your child healthy and ready to learn, the Scranton School District offers health screenings conducted by the certified school nurses every year. These screenings include vision for each student, hearing for students in grades K-3, 7 and 11, and scoliosis for students in grades 6 and 7. These screenings identify problems, which may interfere with learning. 

All children enrolled in Pennsylvania schools will have their height and weight measured, and then used to calculate their body mass index (BMI). BMI is a screening tool used to determine whether a child is overweight or underweight. 

Your child’s BMI is based on the ratio of height to weight. BMI is reported as a percentile ranking based on the child’s age and gender. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) created the percentile ranges to identify children who may be at risk for specific health problems. Children with high BMI are at increased risk for serious health conditions such as insulin resistance (a precursor to diabetes) and heart disease. 

Like all screening tools, BMI can produce some false positives or negatives. For example, a student may have an artificially high BMI due to a high level of lean body tissue or muscle, as may be found in a well-conditioned athlete. That’s why it’s so important to follow up with your doctor if your child’s BMI is high or low. 

Your child’s BMI is strictly confidential and will not be discussed with anyone other than you and your child. Please share your child’s BMI information with your child’s health care provider. Your doctor or nurse is in the best position to evaluate your child’s overall health. 

Feel free call your child’s school nurse with any questions you have about the Growth Screening Program. 

Required Examinations:

Physical examinations are required by state law for all students in Grades K, 6 and 11. Parents may have the exam done by their own doctor if they do not want it done in school. A special form to be signed by your private physician was mailed to your home last June. If for any reason you do not have the form, 

you can get one from the school office in the summer or the school nurse in the fall. The form must be submitted to school by October 15th OR your child will be scheduled for the school exam. 

Dental examinations are also required by state law for all students in Grades K, 3 and 7. Parents may also have this exam done by their own dentist. Please refer to the above paragraph regarding forms and dates. 

Immunization Requirements: 

Immunization requirements for all students entering school for the first time ever in Kindergarten or First grade are as follows: 

• • 4 DT spaced a minimum of 28 days apart; the fourth injection MUST have been after the child’s fourth birthday or a 5th dose will be required. (Pertussis is not required, but often this will be given as DPT or DTaP).
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  • 3 Polio Vaccines, properly spaced, by injection or the oral route.
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  • 3 Hepatitis B injections spaced no less then 28 days between the 1st and 2nd injection, and no less than 2 months between the 2nd and 3rd injection, and no less than 4 months between the 1st and 3rd injection.
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  • 2 Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) injections after the age of 12 months.
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  • 2 Varicella doses after the age of 12 months OR the date (month/year) of Chicken Pox disease signed by the doctor or parent. 

 

Immunization requirements for ALL students entering 7th grade. In addition to all of the above immunizations these students must have:

• 1 TdaP (Tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis) Pertussis is required. 1 Meningococcal conjugate vaccine.

 

There are medical or religious exemptions from the immunization requirements if they apply to your child 

 

REMINDER: ALL medications are given through the health room. Please see district policy (available at your school or Student Health Services in the administration building) for details. 

Physical Exam:

Students entering school in Kindergarten or grade 1, grade 6 and grade 11 are required by state law to have a physical examination. Students who have entered school from other states or countries or do not have a physical examination on file for those grades are also required to have a physical exam. Parents are encouraged to obtain the physical examination from their private health care provider and submit a copy to the school nurse. Your private health care provider can provide immunizations and any medical care that your child may require. Students in grade 5 and 10 can submit a copy of their physical examination and it will count as the required examination in grade 6 or grade 11. 

Dental Exam:

Dental examinations are required for students entering school in grades K or 1, grade 3 and grade 7. For your child’s dental health and follow up care, your private dentist is the best person to perform this examination. If your child has seen your dentist, please ask your dentist to complete the Private Dental Form and return it to the school nurse. If you prefer, the school district dentist can do the examination at no cost to you. The school dentist does not provide preventative or restorative care. The parent must contact their own dentist for this follow-up care. 

Please visit the FORMS sections to access all available forms!