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School Health Services


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About Us:

Health services and school nurses are an integral part of the school, ensuring the health and safety of students and staff. The health needs of students today have increased in scope and complexity. The information on this page is intended to assist health professionals and schools in providing health services in the school setting.

Please see the NYS Center for School Health for a multitude of resources related to school health.


Updates and New Information:

March 10, 2023

November 4, 2022

October 20, 2022

September 6, 2022

July 6, 2022

June 14, 2022


Automatic Electronic Defibrillator (AED)

All you ever wanted to know about AEDs


Dental Certificates

Clarifying Information on Dental Certificates for Students Entering School: Effective September 1, 2008

Education Law Section 903

Letter to Administrators

Recommended Sample Dental Certificate (Word File 28 KB)

List of dental providers offering free or reduced care


FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records, inclusive of student health records, maintained by PreK-12 schools.

Family Education Rights & Privacy Act - Federal LawExternal Link

Letter to Vermont Department of Health Regarding FERPA (ed.gov)external link

HIPAA

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a federal law that requires covered entitiies (e.g., private health care providers, health plans) to protect individuals' health records and other personal health information that the entities maintainor transmit.

Joint Guidance on the Application of the (FERPA) And (HIPAA) To Student Health RecordsExternal link

This guidance provides information on how FERPA and HIPAA apply to schools.


Guidelines

Athletic Placement Process Updated December 2017 PDF file

Blood Borne Pathogens in Classrooms pdf icon

Caring for Students With Life Threatening Allergies PDF File This document predates laws regarding the administration of epinephrine auto-injectors.  Please see the Guidelines for Medication Management in Schools for the most up to date information on administering this medication.

Concussion Management Guidelines Updated July 2022, based on the Concussion Management and Awareness Act effective July 1, 2012 PDF file

Educational Services for Recently Arrived Unaccompanied Children - September 2014 pdf icon

Feminine Hygiene Products in Schools - April 2018 PDF file

A joint Health Advisory PDF File on MRSA by the New York State Education Department and the New York State Department of Health on MRSA and resources for schools.

Guidance for HIV/AIDS Prevention Education - August 2019 PDF file

Handwashing Recommendations and Alcohol-based Hand Sanitizer Use in Schools - March 2020 PDF file

Health Examination Guidelines for Schools - Updated November 2022 pdf

Hearing Screening Guidelines - Updated May 2018 pdf

Information Regarding Sports Physicals - December 2000 pdf

Information Regarding the Use of Sunscreen pdf

  • FDA Approved Sunscreen Drug Productsexternal link icon
  • In cases where a student does not understand what sunscreen is used for, or is incapable of asking for assistance applying sunscreen, New York Law requires that a licensed health care practitioner (such as a nurse) apply sunscreen on the student pursuant to a medical provider order.

Interval Health History for Athletics pdf (August 2022)
Interval Health History for Athletics word doc icon (August 2022)
Historial de Salud Intermedio para Atletismo pdf (Junio 2022)

Managing Emergency Health Care and Communicable Diseases In the School Setting - Updated November 2022 PDF file

Medication Management in Schools Guidance - October 2022PDF file

Parent/Guardian Notifications Regarding Student Illness or Injury pdf icon

PreKindergarten Health Services Guidance pdf icon (October 2022)

New York State Guide for Asthma Managment in Schools (pdf icon 10 MB)

School Scoliosis Screening Guidelines - Updated May, 2018 (pdf 236 KB) 

Supporting Toilet Learning - March 2016 (pdf image 53 KB)

Tick and Tick-Borne Disease: Education in Schools

Tuberculosis Tests and School Enrollment - January 2017 (pdf 263 KB )

Vision Screening Guidelines - Updated May 2018 (pdf 249 KB)

 


Immunizations

Additional Frequently Asked Questions About School Vaccination Requirementsexternal link icon from the New York State Department of Health - October 2019

Additional Guidance About Vaccination Requirementsexternal link icon - August 2019

Emergency regulations to conform to recent amendments to the Public Health Lawexternal link icon - August 2019

Frequently Asked Questions About Vaccination Requirements PDF Document - July 2019

Frequently Asked Questions About Legislation Removing Non-Medical Exemptions from School Vaccination Requirements PDF Document - June 2019

Statement on Legislation Removing Non-Medical Exemption from School Vaccination Requirements PDF Document - June 2019

Memo Regarding Immunization Certificates for High School Graduates, 11/17/2011 (pdf 41.11 KB)

Refugee Immunization Guidelines (pdf)

New Provisions of Law Concerning the Administration of Immunizations & Anaphylactic Agents by Registered Professional Nurses Utilizing Non-Patient Specific Orders & Protocols (February 27, 2001) (PDF File 79.94 KB)

New York State Immunization Requirements for School Entrance/Attendance

Informational Immunization Materials for Parents

Clarification about Administering Immunizations and Anaphylactic Agents by Registered Professional Nurses using Non-Patient Specific Orders & Protocols (October 3, 2001) (PDF File)

Webinar: Updates on Immunizations and School Attendanceexternal link icon - August 2019


Laws and Regulations

Medical & Health Service- Article 19

Commissioner's Regulations CR 136.1 external link icon - Definitions of School Health Services and Personnel

Commissioner's Regulations CR 136.2 external link icon - Duties of Schools to Provide Health Services

Commissioner's Regulations CR 136.3 external link icon - School Health Services to be Provided (see above update)

Commissioner's Regulations CR 136.4 external link icon - On Site Cardiac Automated Defibrillators

Commissioner's Regulations CR 136.5 external link icon - Concussion Management and Awareness

Commissioner's Regulations CR 136.6 external link icon - Authorized Use of Epinephrine Auto-Injector

Commissioner's Regulations CR 136.7 external link icon - Self-administration of Certain Medications by Students

Commissioner's Regulations CR 136.8 external link icon - Opioid Overdose Prevention

Commissioner's Regulations CR 136.9 - Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Clarification of Student Pregnancy and Confidentiality


Medicaid

Medicaid in Education Provider Policy and Billing Handbookexternal link

Medicaid in Educationexternal link

Medicaid in Education News and Announcementsexternal link


Medications

Clarification on Insulin Pumps (pdf 27.53 KB)

Clarification on Medication Storage in Schools (pdf 9.68 KB)

New Policy for Stocking Albuterol Metered Dose Inhalers (MDIs) (pdf)

Memo Regarding the NYSDOH Opioid Overdose Prevention Program (pdf 146 KB)

Blood Glucose Monitoring - EMSC School Executive's Bulletin (January 2001) (pdf)

Clarification about Administering Immunizations and Anaphylactic Agents by Registered Professional Nurses using Non-Patient Specific Orders & Protocols (October 3, 2001) (PDF File)

Ritalin

Administration of Medications to Students During School-Sponsored Events by Parent/Guardian Designee (pdf 21.03 KB)

January 2007 Memo Regarding Vagal Nerve Magnet Stimulators (pdf 22 KB)


Mental Health

Mental Health Education

Mental Health Education in Schools - Resources for pupil personnel services staff to utilize and assist health educators in supporting a comprehensive approach to mental health well-being in NYS schools.

Mental Health Resources

Supporting Student Mental Health Joint SED and OMH letter (pdf)

Suicide Prevention

Guide for Suicide Prevention for School Personnel (pdf 543 KB)

Recommended Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Resources for NYS Schools, Families, and Students (pdf 189KB)

Resources for Schools on Trauma-Informed Care and Youth Witnessing a Suicide - January 2017 (pdf)


Nonpublic Schools

Health Services for Pupils Attending Nonpublic Schools


Nurses

Provision of Nursing Tasks and Health-Related Activities in Approved Preschool Special Education Settings for Children with Disabilities, Ages Three and Four Years

Non-patient Specific Orders

Medication Administration by Unlicensed Persons

Board of Nursing (Office of Professions)

Guidelines for Determining a Student with a Disability's Need for a One-to-One Nurse

Provision of Nursing Services in School Settings - Including One-to-One Nursing Services to Students with Special Needs -pdf icon January 2019

Use of Licensed Practical Nurses and the Term “School Nurse” in School Settings

District Responsibilities in Hiring Self Employed Nurses pdf

Medical Director and School Nurse Role Memo -pdf November 2022


Substance Abuse

Education Materials and Resources Addressing Substance Use: Implementation of New Law Education Law §3038 pdf icon - March 2019

Guidance for Providing Educational Resources to Address Substance Use pdf icon - June 2019

Letter to Schools from Commissioners of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, Department of Health, and Education Department

Multi-Agency Commissioner's Letter Regarding Substance Abuse Prevention Resources - June 2016 (pdf 502 KB)

E-Cigarettes and Vaping

Letter to Schools from Commissioners of the New York State Department of Health and Education Department to raise awareness and educate on the dangers of e-cigarettes (pdf icon) - January 2019

E-Cigarettes Learning Page available at the NYS Center for School Health, a contracted technical assistance resource center for the NYSED. Additionally resources located at the NYSDOH Get the Facts Website. external link icon

Opioid Prevention

Opioid Overdose Prevention Memo - October 2021

Opioid Overdose Prevention Program Website

Expanded resources for Opioid Overdose Prevention are available on the NYS Center for School Health Website.external link icon  Go to the A-Z Index and click on O for the Opioid Toolkit Page.

Last Updated: March 31, 2023