When to Keep Your Child Home From School Due to Illness / Injury

If your child is ill the night before, or the morning of school, please keep your child home. If your child has a note from their doctor regarding an illness/injury, please provide this note to your school nurse. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your school nurse.

Students should not be sent to school with these health problems, including, but not limited to:

• Temperature of 100.0 F or greater
• If they are taking fever-reducing medications such as Tylenol, Advil or Motrin
• Repeated vomiting or diarrhea in the past 24 hours
• Pink eye (may return 24 hours after starting antibiotics if prescribed)
• Symptoms of COVID-19 including, but not limited to: cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, new loss of taste or smell, chills, rigors, headache, fatigue, sore throat, nausea/vomiting/diarrhea, congestion or runny nose. If your child has tested positive for COVID-19, please contact your school nurse for further instructions.
• Injuries or surgical procedures that require narcotic medication prior to or during the school day.
• ANY illness/injury when the child is not able to function normally in the classroom without pain/discomfort. Such illnesses may include, but are not limited to: severe sore throat, excessive cough, headache, earache, or stomachache. 

• Allentown Health Bureau: 610-437-7754
• Lehigh Valley Health Network: 610-402-CARE (2273)
• Valley Health Partners - 610-969-4200
• St. Luke's University Health Network: 610-770-8380
• Star Community Health: 484-822-7850 
• Ambulance or Police: 911

Reference: https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/school/Pages/Mandated-School-Health-Programs.aspx 

The following screenings are mandated by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Screenings are not to be substituted for regular exams by your healthcare provider. The screenings are performed by the school nurse and health room nurses unless otherwise specified. Passive consent for all screenings is implied. If you do not want your child to participate in any of the state mandated screenings, you must provide a written statement indicating which screenings you do not want your child to have, to the school nurse/dental hygienist. You are then required to provide evidence of these screenings by your private medical provider. These requirements also apply to students who are homeschooled and students enrolled in Allentown School District’s virtual campus.

Height and Weight (BMI)

28 PA Code, Chapter 23.7 states “Height and weight measurement shall be conducted at least once annually and preferably twice annually. Every effort shall be made to determine the pattern of growth for each child so that his weight and height can be interpreted in light of his own growth pattern rather than those of his classmates.”

BMI screening results will be posted to the parent portal by June of each school year. If your student’s  BMI is under the 5^th percentile or a or above the 85^th percentile, contact your healthcare provider to discuss. 

NOTE: Beginning with school year 2015-16, the Department of Health BMI-for-age percentile categories will match the CDC BMI-for-age percentile categories as follows:

Underweight: < 5th percentile
Healthy Weight: 5th - < 85th percentile
Overweight: 85th - < 95th percentile
Obese: =/> 95th percentile

Vision

28 PA Code, Chapter 23.4 states “Vision screening tests shall be conducted annually by a nurse, teacher or medical technician. If you have a concern or suspect a visual problem, a comprehensive eye exam by an eye care professional is highly recommended.”

If a student does not pass the visual screening a referral notice will be sent home. A referral means you should contact your family doctor and/or an eye care professional to discuss a comprehensive eye examination. 

** PARENTS/Guardians: If you do not have vision insurance please contact your school nurse. Your student may qualify for a vision voucher that will include a free eye exam and a free pair of eyeglasses  at designated providers**

Hearing

28 PA Code, Chapter 23.5(d) states “Each year, pupils in Kindergarten, special ungraded classes, and grades one, two, three, seven and 11 shall be given a hearing screening test.”

If a student does not pass the hearing screening a referral notice will be sent home. A referral means you should contact your family doctor and/or an audiologist to discuss a comprehensive hearing examination. 

If you have a concern, suspect a hearing problem, or your child has an existing hearing condition, contact with your healthcare provider.

Scoliosis

28 PA Code, Chapter 23.10(b) states “A scoliosis screening test shall be administered to students in grade six and grade seven and to age-appropriate students in ungraded classes.”

The purpose of the scoliosis screening is to detect any abnormal curvature of the spine.

If a student does not pass the scoliosis screening a referral notice will be sent home. A referral means you should contact your family doctor to discuss a comprehensive examination. 

What does a referral mean?

If you receive a referral form after any school screening or examination, it means that the screening or examination detected a possible problem and further evaluation by a professional health care provider is recommended. The referral form is to be completed by your private health care provider and returned to the school nurse.

Medications

Students who require any medication during the school day (both prescribed and over-the-counter medications) must have an authorization for medication form, filled out in its entirety, and signed by both the prescribing physician and parent/guardian. This form needs to be completed yearly and must be dated 7/1 or after to be valid for the current school year. 

• Medication Authorization Form - English/Spanish

Students who are permitted to self-carry medications (inhalers and epinephrine auto-injectors) must have an additional self-carry authorization form completed yearly. This form must be dated 7/1 or after to be valid for the current school year. 

• Authorization to Self-carry Medication Form - English
• Authorization to Self-carry Medication Form - Spanish 

All medications must be brought into school by a parent/guardian in the original container. The label on the medication container must match the authorization form exactly. Students are not permitted to transport medications to and from school (exception: inhalers and epi-pens with valid self-carry orders). Students that carry medication on them without medical orders are in violation of school policy and may be subject to discipline. 

The school district doctor has signed standing orders for some medications should the need arise during the school day. This form needs to be signed by a parent/guardian, each school year, for the student to be able to receive these medications. 

The Pennsylvania Public School Code Section 1402. Health Services (e) requires that students upon original entry, sixth grade and eleventh grade be given a "comprehensive appraisal" of their health. The physical is to be completed within four months prior to the start of the school year. In addition, Section 1402(c) requires the completion of medical questionnaires which are to become part of the student's health record. This requirement may be completed by the student's primary care provider (MD, DO, CRNP, PA).

Dental screenings are also required on original entry into school and in grades three and seven.

• Physical Exam Form - English
• Physical Exam Form - Spanish
• Private Dental Form