NORTHFIELD BOARD OF EDUCATION FILE CODE: 5141.3
Northfield, New Jersey X Monitored
X Mandated
Policy X Other Reasons
HEALTH EXAMINATIONS AND IMMUNIZATIONS
Students who enter the Northfield School District for the first time shall have a medical examination conducted by their personal physician, and a full report sent to the school. If a student does not have a personal physician, the district shall provide this examination at the school physician’s office or other appropriately equipped facility. As the school physician is also a health care provider, the parent/guardian may request that the school physician provide the medical examination.
A student shall be exempted from mandatory immunization if the parent/guardian objects to immunization in a written statement submitted to the principal, signed by the parent/guardian, explaining how the administration of immunizing agents conflicts with the student’s exercise of bona fide religious tenets or practices. General philosophical or moral objection to immunization shall not be sufficient for an exemption on religious grounds.
Every student who enters the district schools for the first time shall present an immunization record as required by law.
In order to protect the health of the children and staff in district schools, all regulations of the state department of education, the state department of health and the local board of health shall be scrupulously observed, particularly those dealing with contagious/infectious diseases or conditions. Students seeking to enter school who have been identified as having a communicable/infectious disease or condition shall not be enrolled unless they qualify under the above agencies’ rules pertaining to periods of incubation, communicability, quarantine, and reporting.
The Superintendent or his/her designee shall formulate regulations that ensure immunization records are reviewed and updated annually pursuant to N.J.A.C. 8:57-4.1 through 4.16. The Superintendent shall also formulate regulations for this policy and for regular student health examinations at appropriate grade levels; before participation in sports programs; and for tuberculosis, scoliosis, hearing loss, visual acuity and any other physical examinations required by law. Any health defects revealed by any examination given by the school health services must be reported to the parent/guardian. The board shall review the regulations and adopt those required by law.
Parent/Guardian Notice
In accordance with federal law, the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA), parents/guardians shall be notified annually of the opportunity for the parent/guardian to opt the student out of any non-emergency, invasive physical examination or screening that is:
- Required as a condition of attendance;
- Administered by the school and scheduled by the school in advance; and
- Not necessary to protect the immediate health and safety of the student, or of other students.
Adopted: No Date
NJSBA Review/Update: November 2009; December 2010 February 2017; July 2020; March 2023
Readopted: October 24, 2011
Key Words
Immunizations, Inoculations, Examinations, Student Physical Examinations, Student Physical Examinations, Health
Legal References: N.J.S.A. 18A:35‑4.6
through ‑4.8 Parents Right to Conscience Act of 1979
N.J.S.A. 18A:40‑4 Examination for physical defects and screening of hearing of students; health records
N.J.S.A. 18A:40‑4.3 Scoliosis; periodic examination; notice to parents or guardian
N.J.S.A. 18A:40‑4.4 Exemption
N.J.S.A. 18A:40‑4.5 Immunity from action of any kind due to provisions of act
N.J.S.A. 18A:40‑5 Method of examination; notice to parent or guardian
N.J.S.A. 18A:40‑6 In general
N.J.S.A. 18A:40‑11 Exclusion of students having communicable tuberculosis
N.J.S.A. 18A:40‑16
through ‑19 Tuberculosis infection; determination of presence …
N.J.S.A. 18A:40‑20 Immunization at public expense
N.J.S.A. 18A:61D-8
through ‑10 Findings, declarations relative to Hepatitis B vaccinations….
N.J.S.A. 26:1A‑9.1 Exemption of students from mandatory immunizations
N.J.S.A. 26:4‑6 Prohibiting attendance of teachers or students
N.J.S.A. 26:2T-5
through ‑9 Findings, declarations relative to Hepatitis C
N.J.A.C. 6A:14-3.4 Evaluation
N.J.A.C. 6A:16-1.1et seq. Programs to Support Student Development
See particularly:
N.J.A.C. 6A:16-1.3, -1.4,
-2.1, -2.2, -2.3, -2.4,
-4.1, -4.3
N.J.A.C. 6A:32-9.1 Athletics Procedures
N.J.A.C. 8:57‑2 Reporting of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and
infection with Human Immunodeficiency Virus
N.J.A.C. 8:57‑4.1 Applicability
N.J.A.C. 8:57‑4.2 Proof of immunization
N.J.A.C. 8:57‑4.3 Medical exemptions
N.J.A.C. 8:57‑4.4 Religious exemptions
N.J.A.C. 8:57-4.5 Provisional admission
N.J.A.C. 8:57‑4.6 Documents accepted as evidence of immunization
N.J.A.C. 8:57‑4.7 Records required
N.J.A.C. 8:57‑4.8 Reports to be sent to the State Department of Health
N.J.A.C. 8:57‑4.9 Records available for inspection
N.J.A.C. 8:57‑4.10 Diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis vaccine
N.J.A.C. 8:57‑4.11 Poliovirus vaccine
N.J.A.C. 8:57‑4.12 Measles virus vaccine
N.J.A.C. 8:57‑4.13 Rubella vaccine
N.J.A.C. 8:57‑4.14 Mumps vaccine
N.J.A.C. 8:57‑4.15 Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) conjugate vaccine
N.J.A.C. 8:57‑4.16 Providing immunization
N.J.A.C. 8:57‑4.17 Emergency powers of the State Commissioner of
Health
N.J.A.C. 8:61‑2.1 Attendance at school by students or adults infected by Human Immuno‑deficiency Virus (HIV)
20 U.S.C.A. 1232h Protection of Pupil rights Amendment
Plainfield Board of Education v. Cooperman, 105 NJ 587 (1987)
Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015, Pub. L. 114-95, 20 U.S.C.A. 6301 et seq.
Possible
Cross References: *1410 Local units
*4123 Classroom aides
*5111 Admission
*5113 Absences and excuses
*5131.6 Drugs, alcohol, tobacco (substance abuse)
*5141 Health
*5141.21 Administering medication
*5200 Nonpublic school students
*6142.4 Physical education and health
*6145.1/6145.2 Intramural competition; interscholastic competition
*6162.5 Research
*6164.4 Child study team
*6171.4 Special education
*Indicates policy is included in the Critical Policy Reference Manual.