Health services are an integral part of assisting all students to increase learning, achievement, and performance. Health services coordinate and support existing programs to assist each student in achievement of an optimal state of physical, mental and social well being. Student health services ensure continuity and create linkages between school, home, and community service providers. The school district’s needs, and resources determine the linkages.
Except in emergent care situations or child abuse assessments, the district will not administer invasive physical examinations or health screenings of a student that are not required by state or federal law without first obtaining the written consent of the student’s parent or guardian.
- Emergent care situation means a sudden or unforeseen occurrence of onset of a medical or behavioral condition that could result in serious injury or harm to a student or others in the event immediate medical attention is not provided. Emergent care situation includes the need to screen a student or others for symptoms or exposures during an outbreak or public health event of concern as designated by the department of public health.
- Invasive physical examination means any medical examination that involves the exposure of private body parts or any act during such examination that includes incision, insertion, or injection into the body, but does not include a hearing, vision or scoliosis screening.
- Student health screening means an intentionally planned, periodic process to identify if students may be at risk for a health concern and to determine if a referral for an in-depth assessment is needed to consider appropriate health services. Student health screening does not include an episodic, individual screening done in accordance with professional licensed practice.
The superintendent, in conjunction with the (school nurse, health advisory committee, public health nurse, school health team, etc.) will develop administrative regulations implementing this policy. The superintendent will provide a written report on the role of health services in the education program to the board annually.
Note: This is a mandatory policy. If a school district will be using federal money to perform physical exams or screenings on students, the school district must annually notify parents of the exam or screening except for hearing, vision or scoliosis. The following language is suggested:
“The school district will annually notify parents of physical exams or screenings conducted on students except for vision, hearing or scoliosis.”
Legal Reference: No Child Left Behind, Title II, Sec. 1061, P.L. 107-110.
42 U.S.C. §§ 12101 et seq.
34 C.F.R. pt. 99, 104, 200, 300 et seq.
29 U.S.C. § 794(a)
28 C.F.R. 35
20 U.S.C. 1232g, §1400, 6301 et seq.
Iowa Code §§ 22.7, 139A.3, .8, .21; 143.1, 152, 256.7(24), .11, 280.23.
281 I.A.C. 12.3(4), (7), (11); 12.4(12); 12.8; 41.404(1)(g); 41.405(2).
282 I.A.C. 15.3(14); 22.
641 I.A.C. 7.
655 I.A.C. 6, 6.3(1), 6.3(6), 6.6(1), 7.
Cross Reference: 501.4 Entrance - Admissions
507 Student Health and Well-Being
Approved September 1996
Reviewed June 2009, September 2014, July 2020, Aug 2023
