Title 14 Education
800 Health and Safety
815 Physical Examinations and Screening
1.0 Physical Examinations
1.1 All public school students shall have a physical examination that has been administered by a licensed medical physician, nurse practitioner or physician's assistant. The physical examination shall have been done within the two years prior to entry into school. Within fourteen calendar days after notification of the requirement for a physical examination, new enterers shall have received a physical examination or shall have a documented appointment with a licensed health care provider for a physical examination.
1.1.1 The requirement for the physical examination may be waived for students whose parent, guardian or Relative Caregiver, or the student if 18 years or older, or an unaccompanied homeless youth (as defined by 42 USC 11434a) presents a written declaration acknowledged before a notary public, that because of individual religious beliefs, they reject the concept of physical examinations.
1.1.2 The school nurse shall record all findings on the Delaware School Health Record Form (see 14 DE Admin. Code 811) and maintain the original copy in the child’s medical file.
10 DE Reg. 1807 (06/01/07)
Non regulatory note: See 14 DE Admin. Code 1008.3 and 14 DE Admin. Code 1009.3 for physical examination requirements associated with participation in sports.
2.0 Screening
2.1 Vision and Hearing Screening
2.1.1 Each public school student in kindergarten and in grades 2, 4, 7 and grades 9 or 10 shall receive a vision and a hearing screening by January 15th of each school year.
2.1.1.1 In addition to the screening requirements in 2.1.1, screening shall also be provided to new enterers, students referred by a teacher or an administrator, and students considered for special education.
2.1.1.1.1 Driver education students shall have a vision screening within a year prior to their in car driving hours.
2.1.2 The school nurse shall record the results on the Delaware School Health Record Form and shall notify the parent, guardian or Relative Caregiver or the student if 18 years or older, or an unaccompanied homeless youth (as defined by 42 USC 11434a) if the student has a suspected problem.
2.2 Postural and Gait Screening
2.2.1 Each public school student in grades 5 through 9 shall receive a postural and gait screening by December 15th.
2.2.2 The school nurse shall record the findings on the Delaware School Health Record Form (see 14 DE Admin. Code 811) and shall notify the parents, guardian or Relative Caregiver, or the student if 18 years or older, or an unaccompanied homeless youth (as defined by 42 USC 11434a) if a suspected deviation has been detected.
2.2.2.1 If a suspected deviation is detected, the school nurse shall refer the student for further evaluation through an on site follow up evaluation or a referral to the student’s health care provider.
2.3 Lead Screening
2.3.1 Children who enter school at kindergarten or at age 5 or prior, shall be required to provide documentation of lead screening as per 16 Del.C. Ch. 26.
2.3.1.1 For children enrolling in kindergarten, documentation of lead screening shall be provided within sixty (60) calendar days of the date of enrollment. Failure to provide the required documentation shall result in the child's exclusion from school until the documentation is provided.
2.3.1.2 Exemption from this requirement may be granted for religious exemptions, per 16 Del.C. §2603.
2.3.1.3 The Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Act, 16 Del.C., Ch. 26, requires all health care providers to order lead screening for children at or around the age of 12 months of age.
2.3.2 The school nurse shall document the lead screening on the Delaware School Health Record form. See 14 DE Admin. Code 811.
7 DE Reg. 68 (07/01/03)
10 DE Reg. 1807 (06/01/07)
