Mandated Health Screenings Performed in School

Keeping your child healthy is essential to their educational success. The School District of Philadelphia takes this responsibility very seriously. And, we acknowledge that we are best able to serve all students equally well when we establish strong working relationships with parents and the community.

The Pennsylvania Public School Code requires specific health screenings, based on grade level, to be provided for all students in Pennsylvania. These are considered screenings and are not to be a substitute for regular checkups with a pediatrician.

School nurses will perform the following health screenings:

• Growth Screening (height and weight)-All grades K-12
• Vision Screening –All grades K-12
• Hearing Screening –Grades K, 1,2,3,7,11
• Scoliosis Screening (curvature of the back)-Grade 6,7

Partner Health Care Services

In addition to the screenings provided by the school nurse, The School District of Philadelphia has partnered with various health care providers to provide services for children who may have a difficult time obtaining the services they need to reach their optimal health. These health care providers may offer services to your child during the school year through their school. Parents will be required to complete a written consent form prior to their child receiving services from any Health Care Provider working with the School District.

The School District will provide complete information to parents/guardians regarding the services being offered, schedule for services and a follow up report of the service provided. Please contact your school nurse if you have any concerns or questions regarding the Partner Health Care Services.

Student Illness & Attendance

Your child should attend school if they are generally healthy, well and able to participate in their usual day-to-day activities. To provide a healthy school environment for students, the following guidance has been prepared to assist families in making the best decision for their child’s health and school attendance.

• If your child is not feeling well and you are uncertain about sending them to school, it is best to keep them home and observe them for worsening symptoms.
• When you make the decision to keep your child home, notify the school secretary or nurse of their absence and what type of symptoms or illness they have.
• Keep your child home until their symptoms are not present or have improved and they have no diarrhea, vomiting or fever (without taking fever-reducing medications) for at least 24 hours.
• If your child’s symptoms are not improving or are getting worse, visit the doctor.
• Once your child’s symptoms have improved or are no longer present and they have no diarrhea, vomiting or fever (without taking fever-reducing medications) for at least 24 hours they should return to school for in-person learning.

This is general guidance and school nurses may use clinical judgment to determine whether or not to exclude a student due to illness. This guidance does not cover all situations.

• Bed Bugs – If a bedbug is found on a student, the parent/caregiver will be notified. The student’s clothes and belongings may be examined for bedbugs. Parents/caregivers should dry clothes in high heat or place them in a plastic bag to destroy the bugs. Students will not be excluded or dismissed early from school for bed bugs.
• COVID-19 – Students may return to school when they are feeling well, symptoms are not present or have improved and are fever-free for 24 hours without taking fever-reducing medication. Wear a well-fitted mask 5 days after returning to school.
• Colds/Flu/RSV – Students need to remain home if they have an excessive runny nose, excessive coughing, difficulty breathing, fever, or looks or acts very ill.
• Diarrhea – If a student has diarrhea 2 times in a day, they should remain home until the diarrhea stops and there are no signs of illness. If the student wears diapers, they need to remain home until the diarrhea stops. (for those children without a known medical condition)
• Ear Infection – Students who complain of ear pain should be evaluated by a doctor. Early treatment can help prevent damage to the ear which can result in hearing loss. Students will not be excluded or dismissed early unless with other concerning symptoms.
• Eye Infection – Eye redness with drainage or watering of the eyes requires assessment by a doctor to determine the cause of the possible eye infection or eye injury. Students should be excluded if the eye is red/pink with white/yellow discharge. Students need to remain home until treated with medication for at least 24 hours or eyes are no longer red with discharge.
• Fever – Students should be excluded from school if they have a fever (temperature at or above 100.4oF). Students may return to school when they are fever-free for 24 hours without taking fever-reducing medication.
• Headache – Students can remain in school unless unable to participate or other concerning symptoms. Return to school when symptoms resolve. If severe headache with a stiff neck or vomiting, contact your doctor immediately for evaluation.
• Head Lice – If a student has active head lice, the parent/caregiver will be notified. The student should be treated at home. Students will not be excluded or dismissed early from school for head lice. Head lice checks of students without symptoms are not required or recommended.
• Rash – Students may remain at school unless rash has oozing/open areas that cannot be covered. Student needs to stay at home or be sent home if the rash is accompanied by a fever, behavior changes, feeling ill or severe itch. If student has been diagnosed with impetigo, scabies or ringworm, they may return to school once treatment is started.
• School Injuries – The nurse or other school staff will assess the injury, administer first aid, and notify parents as soon as possible, as to the type and status of injury.
• Serious Injuries and Surgeries – The school nurse is to be notified when a student has sustained a serious injury or has had surgery. A note from the doctor must describe any limitations or special needs when the student is cleared to return to school. Possible modifications to school schedule, physical activity, and mobility in the school should be evaluated.
• Sore Throat/ Strep Throat – Student needs to stay home if they cannot swallow, have excessive drooling, difficulty breathing, fever or behavior change. Student needs to be treated with antibiotics for 24 hours before returning to school if there is a positive throat culture.
• Stomachache – Students should be excluded with severe pain causing doubling over, crying, screaming, abdominal injury, diarrhea, vomiting, looks and acts ill. Students may return to school when pain resolves and/or is symptom free.
• Vomiting – Students are to remain at home if they have vomited within the past 24 hours. For a student who has one occurrence of vomiting at school, they may remain at school if there are no other signs or symptoms of illness.

Source: Philadelphia Department of Public Health Yellow Book

About the PASH Program

Promoting Adolescent Student Health (PASH) is a five-year grant that works to reduce youth risk behaviors that lead to unintended pregnancy, STIs, and HIV via three core strategies:

• Sexual Health Education- Helps adolescents acquire the knowledge and skills to prevent HIV, STIs, and unintended pregnancy
• Sexual Health Services- Increase students’ access to key preventive key Sexual Health Services
• Safe and Supportive Environments – Focuses on factors within school and family environments that act as protective factors and reduce the risk of HIV, STIs, and unintended pregnancy.