Mandated Health Services
Pennsylvania School Health provides the following mandated health services available to students during the school year.
Growth Screening including Height , Weight and BMI percentile for K-12, all grades and all other children who are newly enrolled in the district or who have had a history of a growth concern.
Vision Screening for K-12, all grades and all other children who are newly enrolled in the district or who have had a history of a vision concern.
Hearing Screening for grades K, 1, 2, 3, 7, 11 and all other children who are newly enrolled in the district or who have had a history of a hearing concern.
Dental Examinations are required upon original entry (kindergarten or first grade), 3rd, and 7th grades. Parents are advised to have these examinations done by their family dentist because he/she is familiar with the child's past dental history and is prepared to provide any necessary treatment.
Physical Examinations are required upon original entry (kindergarten or first grade), 6th, and 11th grades. Examinations done by a family physician within one year prior to entry into the grade where an examination is required and recorded on a state form are acceptable by state regulations.
Scoliosis Screening for grades 6 (completed during the physical examination) and 7.
Screening results will be posted under the document center in the parent portal.
What does a Referral mean?
If you receive a referral form after any school screening, it means that during the screening a possible concern was detected. Further evaluation by a professional health care provider is recommended. Please have your private physician (or healthcare provider), dentist, or eye doctor evaluate your child and complete the form. Return the completed form to the school nurse and if you have any questions or concerns please contact the school nurse.
Growth Screening
The Pennsylvania Department of Health requires school districts to calculate Body Mass Index (BMI). The Stroudsburg Area School District nurses will be implementing the BMI program throughout the district in all grade levels (k to 12).
BODY MASS INDEX (BMI) is a good way to monitor a child's weight to determine if he/she is at risk for certain chronic diseases. The BMI formula helps us see whether a child's weight is in proportion to his or her height.
A BMI PERCENTILE indicates how a person's measurements compare to others of the same age and gender. A child whose BMI is at the 50 th percentile is close to the average of the population. A child above the 95 th percent is considered at risk above average because 95 percent of the population weighs less than he or she does. A child below the 5 th percentile is considered at risk below average because 95 percent of the population weighs more.
At risk below average weight BMI-for-age < 5 th percentile
At risk of above average weight BMI-for-age 85 th percentile to < 95 th percentile
At risk of above average weight BMI-for-age >95 th percentile
Growth screening results will be reported each year on parent portal.
Scoliosis Screening
A check for evidence of spinal curvature is required for all students in Grades 6 (during the physical examination) and Grade 7. We appreciate your assistance and support in helping us fulfill this state school health regulation.
Should a problem be detected in any of the screenings or examinations offered by the school health program, a referral will be sent home recommending that the parents seek further evaluation and/or treatment. This referral form is to be completed by the Primary Care Provider evaluating the child and returned to the nurse's office.
If your child has previously been diagnosed with scoliosis, or is currently being monitored by their physician for scoliosis, we recommend their private physician complete the screening form for comparison and follow up. If you have any questions please contact the school nurse.
Scoliosis Primary Care Provider form is under forms tab.
Dental Health
Dental examinations are required upon original entry (kindergarten or first grade), 3rd, and 7th grades. Parents are advised to have these examinations done by their family dentist because he/she is familiar with the child's past dental history and is prepared to provide any necessary treatment. Examinations done by a family dentist within one year prior to entry into the grade where an examination is required and recorded on a state form.
To comply with the dental regulations of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the school district will conduct a dental examination by the dentist/hygienist in kindergarten (or original entry into school), 3rd grade and 7th grade of all pupils who have not been seen by their private dentist after a signed private dental form is returned to the school nurse.
A permission form signed by a parent/guardian is needed for the school to schedule the school dentist to conduct a dental examination.
The dental form is listed under the Forms tab
Physical Examinations
Physical examinations are required upon original entry (kindergarten or first grade), 6th, and 11th grades. Examinations completed by a family physician within one year prior to entry into the grade where an examination is required and recorded on a state form are acceptable by state regulations.
When the dental or physical examinations are not completed by the family doctor/dentist, an examination will be completed by the school doctor/dentist after permission to examine has been obtained from the parent/guardian. The permission slip informs when this is scheduled and you are invited to be present during the examination.
If the examination has been completed by your private doctor, the form is to be turned in to the nurse's office by October 15th in the year that the exam is due.
In grade 11, a sports physical completed the summer prior to or during 11th or 10th grade can also be utilized for the required school physical.Forms can be obtained through the health room at your child’s school.
Forms are also located under the Forms tab.