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The ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿ Health Office recently announced several important reminders for the 2023-2024 school year.

Physicals 

The New York State Department of Education requires a health certificate or health appraisal of each public school student when they enter the school district for the first time; are in Grades K, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11; participate in interscholastic sports; need working papers; and are referred to the Committee on Special Education. Physicals expire one year from the month they were performed, on the last day of the month.

In addition, NYS law (Chapter 281) permits schools to request a dental examination in the following grades: school entry, K, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11. This examination will assess his/her fitness to attend school.

Please note that NYS has only one acceptable health certificate/ physical form for students. To download that form, visit the Health Services Department Physicals page. 

Screenings

NYS mandates that health related screenings be completed in LCSD schools each year.  

Scoliosis Screenings will take place for boys in Grade 9 and for girls in Grades 5 & 7, while Hearing Screenings will take place in Kindergarten or New Entrants, Grades 1, 3, 5, 7 and 11.

Vision Screenings will take place for the following: 

• Color Perception: New Entrants
• Near Vision: Grade K or New Entrants, Grades 1, 3, 5, 7, and 11
• Distance Acuity: Grade K or New Entrants, Grades 1, 3, 5, 7 and 11 (required in K whether or not that is the entry year for the district)

Vision and Hearing Screenings must be completed within six months of admission to school.

Immunizations

During the 2023-2024 school year, the NYS Department of Health requires that all students entering Grades 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 must receive the meningococcal vaccine. 

Meningococcal disease causes bacterial meningitis and other serious diseases. Teens and young adults are at greater risk. While this is not a new vaccine (it has been recommended for years), it is now required for school entry. 

Please note that students who have received this vaccine in the past may still need a booster to start school. Parents and guardians should check with their family doctors to see whether or not their child needs the vaccine.

Additional immunization requirements can be found on the ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿ Web site on the Health Services Department Immunizations page. 

Questions?

Parents and guardians with questions regarding physicals, screenings or immunizations should contact their child’s school nurse.