IMMUNIZATION AND HEALTH

REQUIREMENTS FOR SCHOOL ADMISSION Policy Code: 4110

The board of education requires all students to meet the eligibility requirements for school
admission established by the State and the board, including immunization. The school will
maintain on file immunization and health assessment records for all students, and these records
may be inspected by officials of the county or state health departments in accordance with state
and federal law. Each school principal shall file required reports with the Department of Health
and Human Services and the Department of Public Instruction.

A. IMMUNIZATION

1. Requirements for Initial Entry

Within 30 calendar days of his or her first day of attendance in the school system,
each student must show evidence of age-appropriate vaccination in accordance with
state law and regulation, including the following vaccines as applicable:

a. DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis);

b. poliomyelitis (polio);

c. measles (rubeola);

d. rubella (German measles);

e. mumps;

f. Haemophilus influenzae, type b (Hib);

g. hepatitis B;

h. varicella (chickenpox); and

i. any other vaccine as may be required by law or regulation.

The current required vaccination schedule is available from the N.C. Immunization
Branch online at http://www.immunize.nc.gov/.

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 Policy Code: 4110

2. Additional Requirements

All students entering seventh grade or who have reached age 12, whichever comes
first, are required to receive the following:

a. a booster dose of Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis vaccine), if they

have not previously received it; and

b. the meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV).

3. Certificate of Immunization

a. Evidence of immunizations must be shown in the form of a certificate

furnished by a licensed physician or by the health department. A student
who received immunizations in a state other than North Carolina must
present an official certificate that meets the immunizations requirements of
G.S. 130A-154(b).

b. Principals are required to refuse admittance to any child whose parent or

guardian does not present a medical certification of proper immunizations
within the allotted time. If, following approved medical practice, the
administration of a vaccine requires more than 30 calendar days to
complete, upon certification of this fact by a physician, additional days may
be allowed in order to obtain the required immunizations.

c. Exceptions to the immunization requirements will be made only for

religious reasons or for medical reasons approved by a physician pursuant
to state law and regulation.

B. HEALTH ASSESSMENT/VISION SCREENING

Within 30 calendar days of the first day of school entry, all kindergarten students and,
beginning with the 2016-17 school year, all students entering public schools for the first
time, regardless of grade level, must furnish to the principal a form that meets the
requirements of state law indicating that the student has received a health assessment
pursuant to G.S. 130A-440. A student who fails to meet this requirement will not be
permitted to attend school until the required health assessment form has been presented.
Such absences will not be considered suspensions, and the student will be given an
opportunity to make up work missed during the absence as described below. The principal
or designee shall, at the time of enrollment, notify the parent, guardian, or person standing
in loco parentis that the completed health assessment form is needed on or before the

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 Policy Code: 4110

child’s first day of attendance. The date the student’s health assessment form is received
will be recorded in the student’s official record, and the form will be maintained on file in
the school.

The assessment must include a medical history and physical examination with screening
for vision and hearing and, if appropriate, testing for anemia and tuberculosis. The health
assessment must be conducted no more than 12 months prior to the date of school entry.
Exceptions to the health assessment requirement will be made only for religious reasons.

Vision screening must comply with the vision screening standards adopted by the former
Governor’s Commission on Early Childhood Vision Care. Within 180 days of the start of
the school year, the parent of the child must present to the principal or his or her designee
certification that within the past 12 months, the child has obtained a comprehensive eye
examination performed by an ophthalmologist or optometrist or has obtained a vision
screening conducted by a licensed physician, an optometrist, a physician assistant, a nurse
practitioner, a registered nurse, an orthoptist, or a vision screener certified by Prevent
Blindness North Carolina.

Children who receive and fail to pass the required vision screening must obtain a
comprehensive eye exam conducted by a duly licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist.
The provider of the exam shall present to the parent a signed transmittal form, which the
parent must submit to the school. If a member of the school staff has reason to believe that
a child enrolled in kindergarten through third grade is having problems with vision, the
staff member may recommend to the child’s parent that the child have a comprehensive
eye examination.

No child will be excluded from attending school for a parent’s failure to obtain a
comprehensive eye exam. If a parent fails or refuses to obtain a comprehensive eye exam
or to provide the certification of a comprehensive eye exam, school officials shall send a
written reminder to the parent of required eye exams.

Upon request, the teacher(s) of a student subject to an absence from school for failure to
provide the health assessment form required by this section shall provide to the student all
missed assignments, and to the extent practicable, the materials distributed to students in
connection with the assignments. The principal or designee shall arrange for the student to
take home textbooks and school-furnished digital devices for the duration of the absence
and shall permit the student to take any quarterly, semester, or grading period examinations
missed during the absence period.

C. HOMELESS STUDENTS

Notwithstanding the provisions of this policy, admissions for homeless students shall not

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 Policy Code: 4110

be prohibited or delayed due to the student’s inability to provide documentation of

immunizations or health assessments. The homeless liaison shall work with the student,
parent/guardian, school personnel or other agencies to obtain documentation of
immunization and/or the health assessment or to arrange for such immunizations and/or
assessments in a timely manner.

D. FOSTER CHILDREN

Notwithstanding the provisions of this policy, admissions for students in foster care will
not be prohibited or delayed due to the student’s inability to provide documentation of
immunizations or health assessments. The enrolling school will immediately contact the
school last attended by the foster child to obtain any relevant documentation.

D.E. CHILDREN OF MILITARY FAMILIES

The board acknowledges that immunization requirements for newly enrolling military
children are governed by the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military
Children. Children of military families, as defined in policy 4050, Children of Military
Families, will have 30 days from the date of enrollment or within such time as reasonably
determined by the rules of the Interstate Commission to obtain any required immunization.
For a series of immunizations, initial vaccinations must be obtained within 30 days or
within such time as is reasonably determined under the Interstate Commission.

Legal References: Elementary and Secondary Education Act, 20 U.S.C. 6311(g)(1)(E);

McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq.; G.S. 115C-390.2, -407.5;
130A-152 to -157, -440 to -443; 143B-216.75; 10A N.C.A.C. 41A .0401

Cross References: Children of Military Families (policy 4050), Homeless Students (policy 4125),
Attendance (policy 4400)

Other References: N.C. Immunization Branch, available at http://www.immunize.nc.gov/

Adopted: April 9, 1998 to become effective July 1, 1998

Updated: May 11, 2000, January 10, 2008, May 10, 2012, October 8, 2015, July 14, 2016, April
6, 2017

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