The parent or guardian of a child who requires prescription medication to be administered during the school day must submit a completed Medication Administration Form to the school health clerk before prescription medication will be accepted by the health clerk or dispensed to their child. The Health Clerk will not dispense prescription medication or over-the-counter medication of any type without written instructions from both a physician and parents or guardians, which detail the name of the drug, the dosage, and the time interval in which the medication is to be taken. All such physician orders must be renewed at the beginning of each school year. In addition, the parent or guardian must submit a written request to the school, which includes the above orders along with the telephone number of the physician. All medication (prescription and over-the-counter) shall be brought to school by a parent, and delivered to the health office in the original container labeled with the student's name, name of the drug, the dosage, and the time interval at which the medication is to be taken. School District policy does not allow the school to provide any medications for students.

The Health Clerk will store the medication in a safe and secure place and supervise the administration of all medication. The Health Clerk will keep a record of medication administered and parents will be notified by telephone if over-the-counter medicine provided by the parent has been administered. Students may not bring to school, store, carry, or consume any medication without the supervision of the Health Clerk. Students who use inhalers for asthma and EpiPens for severe allergic reactions must have an emergency health plan, created in consultation with their physician, on file in the health office.

The increasing incidence of allergies and life-threatening reactions requires an increased awareness of students with allergies. Health Services staff maintain a list of students with allergies with the recommended actions for treatment of an allergic reaction. Health Services staff notifies school staff of students requiring epinephrine administration (EpiPen) for severe allergic reactions. Emergency 911 will be called following the use of epinephrine/EpiPen. Allergy information is provided to staff on a need-to-know basis and for use in planning safe activities for students.

Guidelines for the Self-Administration of Asthma and Epinephrine Medication at School

A student may possess and self-administer an epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen) and/or asthma medication for use at the student’s discretion, provided the student’s parent/guardian has completed a signed a School Medication Authorization Form. The Superintendent or designee will ensure an Emergency Action Plan is developed for each self-administering student. A student may self-administer medication required under a qualifying plan, provided the student’s parent/guardian has completed and signed a School Medication Authorization Form. A qualifying plan means: 

(1) an asthma action plan, 

(2) an Individual Health Care Action Plan, 

(3) an allergy emergency action plan, 

(4) a plan pursuant to Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, or (5) a plan pursuant to the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

The District shall incur no liability, except for willful and wanton conduct, as a result of any injury arising from a student’s self-administration of medication including asthma medication or epinephrine injectors,or medication required under a qualifying plan. A student’s parent/guardian must indemnify and hold harmless the District and its employees and agents, against any claims, except a claim based on willful and wanton conduct, arising out of a student’s self-administration of an epinephrine injector, asthma medication, and/or medication required under a qualifying plan. Students shall be allowed to self-administer asthma or use an epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen) under the following conditions:

1. The medication has been prescribed by a physician, a physician's assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse possessing the proper authority to prescribe medication.

2. For an EpiPen, the parent provided written authorization or a written statement from the student's physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse, which contains the following information:

a. the name and purpose of the EpiPen,

b. the prescribed dosage,

c. the time at which or circumstances under which the EpiPen is to be administered.

3. For asthma medication, the parent provided the prescription label, which contains the following information:

a. the name of the medication,

b. the prescribed dosage

c. the time at which or circumstances under which the medication is to be administered.

4. The student's parent/guardian has signed the District's "Self-Administration of Asthma Medication or Use of Epinephrine Auto-Injector Authorization, Hold-Harmless and Indemnity" form. This agreement is  available in the school’s health office.  A copy of this procedure shall be distributed to the parents/guardians within 15 days after the beginning of each school year or within 15 days after starting classes for a student that transfers into the District.

Physical examinations and immunizations, as prescribed by the Illinois Department of Public Health, are required of all students within one year prior to entrance into the preschool program, kindergarten or first grade, and upon entering 6th grade. Additionally, any students enrolling in an Illinois school for the first time, regardless of the student’s age, must present a physical and proof of immunization. The Certificate of Child Health Examination form is available from the school’s Health Clerk. Parents can get low-cost immunizations through the Skokie Health Department (847-933-8252). Students who have not met these requirements by October 15th are subject to exclusion from school. Transfer students must submit a complete and up-to-date health and immunization form to the school's health office within 30 days of their enrollment.

The exam form, completed and signed by a licensed healthcare provider, must be dated within one year prior to the first day of school and must include diabetes screening and lead screening for children who are six years or younger. A tuberculosis (TB) skin test is recommended. The Health History section of the form must be completed and signed by the parent/guardian.

As required by State law:

1.​ Health examinations must be performed by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches, an advanced practice registered nurse, or a physician assistant who has been delegated the performance of health examinations by a supervising physician.

2.​ A diabetes screening is a required part of each health examination; diabetes testing is not required.

3.​ An age-appropriate developmental screening and an age-appropriate social and emotional screening are required parts of each health examination. A student will not be excluded from school due to his or her parent/guardian’s failure to obtain a developmental screening or a social and emotional screening.

4.​ Before admission and in conjunction with required physical examinations, parents/guardians of children between the ages of one and seven years old must provide a statement from a physician that their child was ‘risk assessed’ or screened for lead poisoning.

5.​ The Department of Public Health will provide all students entering sixth grade and their parents/guardians information about the link between human papilloma virus (HPV) and HPV-related cancers and the availability of the HPV vaccine.

6.​ The District will provide informational materials regarding influenza, influenza vaccinations, meningococcal disease, and meningococcal vaccinations developed, provided, or approved by the IDPH when it provides information on immunizations, infectious diseases, medications, or other school health issues to students’ parent(s)/guardian(s).

Required school immunizations are:

• Pneumococcal (PCV) (preschoolers only): children entering preschool shall show proof of having received vaccine, per schedule
• Diphtheria, Pertussis, and Tetanus (DPT): children entering preschool shall show proof of having received four (4) doses of vaccine; children entering kindergarten or first grade must show proof of having four or more doses of the DPT vaccine; children entering all other grades shall show proof of having received three (3) doses of vaccine
• Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis booster adolescent (Tdap): children entering Grades 6-12 shall show proof of having received one (1) booster dose of vaccine
• Polio (IPV): children entering school at any grade level (pre-K-12) shall show proof of having received three (3) or more doses of vaccine
• Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR): children entering school at any grade level (pre-K-12) shall show proof of having received two (2) doses of vaccine
• Haemophilus influenzae (Hib): children entering preschool shall show proof of having received vaccine, per schedule
• Chicken pox/Varicella (Varivax): EC/PreK - one dose on or after first birthday, all other grades - two doses of the varicella vaccine are required for all grade levels at required intervals
• Hepatitis (HBV): children entering preschool and children in Grades 6-8 shall show proof of having received three (3) doses of vaccine
• Meningococcal (MCV): children entering Grade 6 for the first time shall show proof of having received one (1) dose of vaccine on or after the child’s eleventh birthday

Parents/guardians are encouraged to have their children undergo an eye examination whenever health examinations are required.  Parents/guardians of students entering kindergarten or an Illinois school for the first time shall present proof before October 15 of the current school year that the student received an eye examination within one year prior to entry of kindergarten or the school. A physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches or a licensed optometrist must perform the required eye examination. If the student fails to present proof of October 15, the school may hold the student’s report card until the student presents proof: (1) of a completed eye examination, or (2) that an eye examination will take place within 60 days after October 15. The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that parents/guardians are notified of this eye examination requirement in compliance with the rules of the Illinois Department of Public Health. Schools shall not exclude a student from attending school due to failure to obtain an eye examination. The State of Illinois Eye Examination Report is available from the school’s health office and on the District’s website.

All children in kindergarten and the second and sixth grades must present proof of having been examined by a licensed dentist before May 15 of the current school year in accordance with rules adopted by the Illinois Department of Public Health. If a child in the second or sixth grade fails to present proof by May 15, the school may hold the child’s report card until the child presents proof: (1) of a completed dental examination, or (2) that a dental examination will take place within 60 days after May 15. The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that parents/guardians are notified of this dental examination requirement at least 60 days before May 15 of each school year. The IDPH Dental Examination form is available from the school’s health office and on the District’s website.

In accordance with rules adopted by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), a student will be exempted from this policy’s requirements for:

1.​ Religious or medical grounds, if the student’s parents/guardians present the IDPH’s Certificate of Religious Exemption form to the Superintendent or designee. When a Certificate of Religious Exemption form is presented, the Superintendent or designee shall immediately inform the parents/guardians of exclusion procedures pursuant to Board Policy 7:280, Communicable and Chronic Infectious Disease, and State rules if there is an outbreak of one or more diseases from which the student is not protected.

2.​ Health examination or immunization requirements on medical grounds, if the examining physician, advanced registered practice nurse, or physician assistant provides written verification.

3.​ Eye examination requirement, if the student’s parents/guardians show an undue burden or lack of access to a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches who provides eye examinations or a licensed optometrist.

4.​ Dental examination requirement, if the student’s parents/guardians show an undue burden or a lack of access to a dentist.

Screenings for vision and hearing deficits are provided in accordance with the Illinois Department of Public Health and District 68 guidelines. Parents/guardians and staff members who suspect a problem with a student's vision or hearing are encouraged to call the nurse or health clerk and request a screening. Parents or legal guardians who object on religious grounds to vision screenings for their child may contact the District nurse for additional information.

Vision Screenings are administered by the District for students in grades K, 2, 8, students receiving special education services, transfer students, and when school staff or parents refer a student for a screening. The school vision screening is not a substitute for a complete eye and vision evaluation by an eye doctor. Your child is not required to undergo this vision screening if an optometrist or ophthalmologist has completed and signed a report form indicating that an examination has been administered within the previous 12 months.

Hearing Screenings are done by the District for students in grades K through 3, students receiving special education services, transfer students and when school staff or parents refer a student. Students with suspected problems are referred for medical follow-up by parents.

Control of communicable diseases is managed within the District in accordance with the Illinois

Department of Public Health mandates. Students who exhibit symptoms of communicable diseases may be excluded from school until a physician indicates they can safely return. Health Services staff may alert families of reported communicable diseases within the schools according to guidelines from the health department.

If a student is required to be in a non-school setting, an appropriate educational program shall be developed and provided.

Every effort will be made to maintain the confidentiality of any student with a chronic communicable disease. Only those individuals with a legal right to know will be informed of the student's identity. Details of the school District's policy and procedures for dealing with individuals with chronic communicable diseases, as well as the District's Exposure Control Plan, are available from your school’s health office.

Wellness Policy

Severe food allergies and childhood overweight/obesity rates among children are on the rise, which is resulting in serious health complications for our students. The Child Nutrition and Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Reauthorization Act requires school districts to develop a local wellness policy. Part of that act also calls for the formation of a local wellness policy committee. The local wellness policy committee is made up of community members, parents, teachers, and administrators.

The goals for addressing nutrition education include the following:

• Schools will support and promote good nutrition for students.
• Schools will foster the positive relationship between good nutrition, physical activity, and the capacity of students to develop and learn.
• Nutrition education will be part of the District's comprehensive health education curriculum.

The goals for addressing physical activity include the following:

Schools will support and promote an active lifestyle for students.

Physical education will be taught in all grades and shall include a developmentally planned and sequential curriculum that fosters the development of movement skills, enhances health-related fitness, increases students' knowledge, offers direct opportunities to learn how to work cooperatively in a group setting, and encourages healthy habits and attitudes for a healthy lifestyle.

The curriculum will be consistent with and incorporate relevant Illinois Learning Standards for Physical Development and Health as established by the Illinois State Board of Education. Nutrition Guidelines for Foods available in schools during the school day students will be offered, and schools will promote, nutritious food and beverage choices consistent with the current dietary guidelines for Americans and food guidance system published jointly by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture. In addition, in order to promote student health and reduce childhood obesity, the Superintendent or designee shall establish such administrative procedures to control food sales that compete with the District's non-profit food service in compliance with the Child Nutrition Act. Food service rules shall restrict the sale of foods of minimal nutritional value as defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the food service areas during the meal periods.

A reimbursable school meal is a complete meal that meets specific federal nutrition standards, allowing the school to receive money back from the United States Department of Agriculture. Reimbursable school meals served shall meet, at a minimum, the nutrition requirements and regulations for the National School Lunch Program and/or School Breakfast Program.

Students age 12 and above who are parents, expectant parents, or victims of domestic or sexual violence must be offered school-based counseling services, if available. 105 ILCS 5/26A-40. Additionally, consistent with the Illinois Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act, students age 12 and above may access school-based counseling without parent consent for up to eight, 90-minute sessions. After that time, the counselor will seek parent/guardian to continue services absent exigent circumstances.