School Health Services
Get vision resources
- About Us
- Automatic Electronic Defibrillator(AED)
- Dental Certificates
- FERPA/HIPAA
- Guidelines
- Immunizations
- Laws, Regulations, and Guidance
- Medicaid
- Medications
- Mental Health
- Nonpublic Schools
- Nurses
- Substance Abuse
- Updates and Important Information
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
- Health Examination Guidelines for Schools
- Managing Emergency Health Care and Communicable Diseases in the School Setting
- Medical Director and School Nurse Role Memo
October 20, 2022
September 6, 2022
July 6, 2022
- Concussion Management Guidelines (Updated July 2022)
June 14, 2022
- Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)
- Interval Health History for Athletics
- Interval Health History for Athletics (Updated June 2022)
- Interval Health History for Athletics
(Updated June 2022) - Historial de Salud Intermedio para Atletismo (Actualizado Junio 2022)
- Interval Health History for Athletics
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
Recommended Sample Dental Certificate ( 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 Law
Letter to Vermont Department of Health Regarding FERPA (ed.gov)
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 Records
This guidance provides information on how FERPA and HIPAA apply to schools.
Guidelines
Athletic Placement Process Updated December 2017 
Blood Borne Pathogens in Classrooms
Caring for Students With Life Threatening Allergies
Concussion Management Guidelines Updated July 2022, based on the Concussion Management and Awareness Act effective July 1, 2012
Educational Services for Recently Arrived Unaccompanied Children - September 2014 
Feminine Hygiene Products in Schools - April 2018
A joint Health
Advisory 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
Handwashing Recommendations and Alcohol-based Hand Sanitizer Use in Schools - March 2020
Health Examination Guidelines for Schools - Updated November 2022
- Required New York State School Health Examination Form (Mar 2023)
- Required New York State School Health Examination Form (Mar 2023)
- Instructions for Completion of New York State School Health Examination Form (May 2020)
Hearing Screening Guidelines - Updated May 2018
Information Regarding Sports Physicals - December 2000
Information Regarding the Use of Sunscreen
- FDA Approved Sunscreen Drug Products
- 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 (August 2022)
Interval Health History for Athletics (August 2022)
Historial de Salud Intermedio para Atletismo (Junio 2022)
Managing Emergency Health Care and Communicable Diseases In the School Setting - Updated November 2022
Medication Management in Schools Guidance - October 2022
Parent/Guardian Notifications Regarding Student Illness or Injury
PreKindergarten Health Services Guidance (October 2022)
New York State Guide for Asthma Managment in Schools ( 10 MB)
School Scoliosis Screening Guidelines - Updated May, 2018 ( 236 KB)
Supporting Toilet Learning - March 2016 ( 53 KB)
Tick and Tick-Borne Disease: Education in Schools
Tuberculosis Tests and School Enrollment - January 2017 ( 263 KB )
Vision Screening Guidelines - Updated May 2018 ( 249 KB)
Immunizations
Additional Frequently Asked Questions About School Vaccination Requirements from the New York State Department of Health - October 2019
Additional Guidance About Vaccination Requirements - August 2019
Emergency regulations to conform to recent amendments to the Public Health Law - August 2019
Frequently Asked Questions About Vaccination Requirements
- July 2019
Statement on Legislation Removing Non-Medical Exemption
from School Vaccination Requirements
- June 2019
Memo Regarding Immunization Certificates for High School Graduates, 11/17/2011 ( 41.11 KB)
Refugee Immunization Guidelines ()
New York State Immunization Requirements for School Entrance/Attendance
Informational Immunization Materials for Parents
Webinar: Updates on Immunizations and School Attendance
- August 2019
Laws and Regulations
Medical & Health Service- Article 19
Commissioner's
Regulations CR 136.1 - Definitions of School Health Services and Personnel
Commissioner's
Regulations CR 136.2 - Duties of Schools to Provide Health Services
Commissioner's
Regulations CR 136.3 - School Health Services to be Provided (see above update)
Commissioner's
Regulations CR 136.4 - On Site Cardiac Automated Defibrillators
Commissioner's
Regulations CR 136.5 - Concussion Management and Awareness
Commissioner's Regulations CR 136.6 - Authorized Use of Epinephrine Auto-Injector
Commissioner's Regulations CR 136.7 - Self-administration of Certain Medications by Students
Commissioner's Regulations CR 136.8 - Opioid Overdose Prevention
Commissioner's Regulations CR 136.9 - Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Clarification of Student Pregnancy and Confidentiality
- Dear Colleague Letter: Supporting the Academic Success of Pregnant and Parenting Students, June 25, 2013
- Pamphlet: Supporting the Academic
Success of Pregnant
and Parenting Students, June 2013
Medicaid
Medicaid in Education Provider Policy and Billing Handbook
Medicaid in Education News and Announcements
Medications
Clarification on Insulin Pumps ( 27.53 KB)
Clarification on Medication Storage in Schools
( 9.68 KB)
New Policy for Stocking Albuterol Metered Dose Inhalers (MDIs) ()
Memo Regarding the NYSDOH Opioid Overdose Prevention Program ( 146 KB)
Blood
Glucose Monitoring - EMSC School Executive's Bulletin
(January 2001) ()
Administration of Medications to Students During School-Sponsored Events by Parent/Guardian Designee ( 21.03 KB)
January 2007 Memo Regarding Vagal Nerve Magnet Stimulators ( 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 ()
Suicide Prevention
Guide for Suicide Prevention for School Personnel ( 543 KB)
Recommended Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Resources for NYS Schools, Families, and Students ( 189KB)
Resources for Schools on Trauma-Informed Care and Youth Witnessing a Suicide - January 2017 ()
Nonpublic Schools
Health Services for Pupils Attending Nonpublic Schools
- Information on MOUs for Health Services to Nonpublic Schools
- Commissioner's Student Health and Safety Conference for Nonpublic Schools - 11/4/13 Recap ()
Nurses
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 - January 2019
Use of Licensed Practical Nurses and the Term “School Nurse” in School Settings
District Responsibilities in Hiring Self Employed Nurses
Medical Director and School Nurse Role Memo - November 2022
Substance Abuse
Education Materials and Resources Addressing Substance Use: Implementation of New Law Education Law §3038 - March 2019
Guidance for Providing Educational Resources to Address Substance Use - June 2019
Multi-Agency Commissioner's Letter Regarding Substance Abuse Prevention Resources - June 2016 ( 502 KB)
E-Cigarettes and Vaping
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.
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. Go to the A-Z Index and click on O for the Opioid Toolkit Page.