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Required Health Examinations and Immunizations

A student’s parents/guardians shall present proof that the student received a health examination with proof of the immunizations against, and screenings for, preventable communicable diseases, as required by the Illinois Department of Public Health, within one year prior to:

1. Entering kindergarten or the 1st grade;
2. Entering the 6th grade; and
3. Enrolling in an Illinois school, regardless of the student’s grade (including nursery school, special education, Head Start programs operated by elementary or secondary schools, and students transferring into Illinois from out-of-state or out-of-country).

Proof of immunization against meningococcal disease is required for students entering grade 6.

As required by state law:

1. Health examinations must be performed by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches, an advanced practice registered nurse, or a physician assistant who has been delegated the performance of health examinations by a supervising physician.
2. A diabetes screening is a required part of each health examination; diabetes testing is not required.
3. An age-appropriate developmental screening and an age-appropriate social and emotional screening are required parts of each health examination. A student will not be excluded from school due to the parent/guardian’s failure to obtain a developmental screening or a social and emotional screening.
4. Before admission and in conjunction with required physical examinations, parents/guardians of children between the ages of one and seven years must provide a statement from a physican that their child was risk-assessed or screened for lead poisoning.
5. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) will provide all students entering sixth grade and their parents/guardians information about the link between human papilloma virus (HPV) and HPV-related cancers and the availability of the HPV vaccine.
6. The District will provide informational materials regarding influenza, influenza vaccinations, meningococcal disease, and meningococcal vaccinations developed, provided, or approved by the IDPH when it provides information on immunizations, infectious diseases, medications, or other school health issues to students’ parents/guardians.

Unless an exemption or extension applies, the failure to comply with the above requirements by October 15 of the current school year will result in the student’s exclusion from school until the required health forms are presented to the District. New students who register after October 15 of the current school year shall have 30 calendar days following registration to comply with the health examination and immunization regulations. If a medical reason prevents a student from receiving a required immunization by October 15, the student must present, by October 15, an immunization schedule and a statement of the medical reasons causing the delay. The schedule and statement of medical reasons must be signed by the physician, advanced practice registered nurse, physician assistant, or local health department responsible for administering the immunizations.

A student transferring from out-of-state who does not have the required proof of immunizations by October 15 may attend classes only if he or she has proof that an appointment for the required vaccinations is scheduled with a party authorized to submit proof of the required vaccinations. If the required proof of vaccination is not submitted within 30 days after the student is permitted to attend classes, the student may no longer attend classes until proof of the vaccinations is properly submitted.

Eye Examination

Parents/guardians are encouraged to have their children undergo an eye examination whenever health examinations are required.

Parents/guardians of students entering kindergarten or an Illinois school for the first time shall present proof before October 15 of the current school year that the student received an eye examination within one year prior to entry of kindergarten or the school. A physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches or a licensed optometrist must perform the required eye examination.

If a student fails to present proof by October 15, the school may hold the student’s report card until the student presents proof: (1) of a completed eye examination, or (2) that an eye examination will take place within 60 calendar days after October 15. The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that parents/guardians are notified of this eye examination requirement in compliance with the rules of the Illinois Department of Public Health. Schools shall not exclude a student from attending school due to failure to obtain an eye examination.

Dental Examination

All children in kindergarten and the 2nd, 6th, and 9th grades must present proof of having been examined by a licensed dentist before May 15 of the current school year in accordance with rules adopted by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

If a child in the 2nd or 6th grade fails to present proof by May 15 the school may hold the child’s report card until the child presents proof: (1) of a completed dental examination, or (2) that a dental examination will take place within 60 calendar days after May 15. The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that parents/guardians are notified of this dental examination requirement at least 60 calendar days before May 15 of each school year.

Exemptions

In accordance with rules adopted by the Illinois Department of Public Health, a student will be exempted from this policy’s requirements for:

1. Religious grounds if the student’s parent/guardians present to the Superintendent or designee the Illinois Department of Public Health’s Certificate of Religious Exemption form. When a Certificate of Religious Exemption form is presented, the Superintendent or designee shall immediately inform the parents/guardians of exclusion procedures pursuant to Board policy 7:280 Communicable and Chronic Infectious Disease and state rules if there is an outbreak of one or more diseases from which the student is not protected.
2. Health examination or immunization requirements on medical grounds, if the examining physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or physican assistant provides written verification.
3. Eye examination requirement, if the student’s parents/guardians show an undue burden or lack of access to a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches who provides eye examinations or a licensed optometrist.
4. Dental examination requirement, if the student’s parents/guardians show an undue burden or lack of access to a dentist.
5. Homeless Child
6. Any homeless child shall be immediately admitted, even if the child or child’s parent/ guardian is unable to produce immunization and health records normally required for enrollment. School Board policy 6:140, Education of Homeless Children, governs the enrollment of homeless children.

Adopted: November 10, 1997
Revised: March 20, 2006; October 20, 2008; January 23, 2017; April 25, 2022; February 24, 2025
Reviewed: June 12, 2023;

Legal References: 42 U.S.C. §11431 et seq., McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
105 ILCS 5/27-8.1 and 45/1-20.
410 ILCS 45/7.1, Lead Poisoning Prevention Act.
410 ILCS 315/2e, Communicable Disease Prevention Act.
23 Ill.Admin.Code §1.530.
77 Ill. Admin.Code Part 664, Socio-Emotional and Developmental Screening.
77 Ill.Admin.Code Part 665, Child and Student Health Examination and Immunization.
77 Ill.Admin.Code Part 690, Control of Notifiable Diseases and Conditions Code.