Health Screenings and Mandates

  • Screenings (Vision, Hearing, Scoliosis)
    • Vision screening for distance and near-vision acuity is required within 6 months of admission to school and in pre-kindergarten or kindergarten, grades 1, 3, 5, 7 and 11.
    • Hearing screening utilizing pure-tone testing is required within 6 months of admission to school and in pre-kindergarten or kindergarten, grades 1, 3, 5, 7, and 11.
    • Scoliosis screening is required in grades 5 and 7 for girls and grade 9 for boys.
    • Parents/Guardians will only be notified if after the screening additional attention is being recommended with your family health care provider.
     
    School Physicals
    If your child is entering pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, grade 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 or 11 in September, a mandated physical examination, by a New York-licensed provider, is required. Your private healthcare provider is the best person to conduct this exam. Make your appointment early as it can take three months to schedule exams over the busy summer. NYS law requires these exams, and schools are obligated to enforce the requirement. Please retain a copy of all certificates for your records before you submit them to the school nurse. Use the District Health Appraisal Form, found on the District Health Forms page. Only the approved form will be accepted. See FAQ's About Physicals for more information.
     
    Athletic Physicals
    SPORTS PHYSICALS FROM YOUR PRIVATE PHYSICIAN WILL NOW BE ACCEPTED. All potential North Tonawanda City School District athletes are required to obtain a sports physical every calendar year. According to the New York State Education Department Commissioner’s Regulations, specifically, CR135.4(c)(7)(i) - “It shall be the duty of the trustees and board of education … to permit no pupil to participate in such activity without the approval of the school medical officer.”  Therefore, the school physician or nurse practitioner retains final approval on any physicals performed by a student’s personal physician. If needed, free physicals by our Board-approved physician(s) will take place during the school year. See the Athletics page for all needed forms. No student will be allowed to try out for a team without a current sports physical on file with the Health Office. 

    Immunizations
    Visit the Immunization Schedule page to view immunization requirements.

    Body Mass Index
    Private health care providers are required to report information about your child’s Body Mass Index (BMI) and Weight Status Category. The health certificates submitted for children enrolled in grades pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 must contain this data. The confidentiality of the information gathered and reported by the District to New York State is maintained, and student names are not included. Parents do, however, retain the right to opt out of this mandated survey by notifying the school nurse in writing prior to Dec. 31.

    Dental Exams
    It is recommended that children undergo dental examinations at specific intervals. The time that your child’s private health care provider completes the mandated physical (pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, grade 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 or 11) coincides with the time that a complete dental and oral examination is recommended. If you require financial assistance, or your child does not have a private dentist, the school nurse can provide you with the names of programs that offer free and reduced-cost dental care. The Dental Certificate Form can be found on the District Health Forms page. 

    Physician Orders
    If your child was under a physician’s order for medication(s), adaptive physical examination, or a life-threatening or serious medical condition that required an Emergency Care Plan (ECP) and any of these orders will continue to be required in September, please be advised that the NYS Education Department requires new medical orders each academic year. Please retain a copy of your child’s physician orders for your records and deliver a copy to the school nurse prior to the start of the school year. See FAQ's About Medications for more information.