N.J. Admin. Code § 6A:16-2.2

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 23, December 2, 2024

Section 6A:16-2.2 - Required health services

(a) Each school district shall ensure immunization records are reviewed and updated annually pursuant to N.J.A.C. 8:57-4.1 through 4.24.

(b) Each school district shall ensure a principal or the principal's designee does not knowingly admit or retain in the school building a student whose parent has not submitted acceptable evidence of the child's immunization, according to the schedule specified at N.J.A.C. 8:57-4, Immunization of Pupils in School.

(c) Each school district shall perform tuberculosis tests on students using methods required by and when specifically directed to do so by the New Jersey Department of Health based upon the incidence of tuberculosis or reactor rates in specific communities or population groups pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:40-16.

(d) Each school district shall immediately report by telephone to the health officer of the jurisdiction in which the school is located any communicable diseases identified as reportable pursuant to N.J.A.C. 8:57-1, whether confirmed or presumed.

(e) Each public and nonpublic school in the State shall have and maintain for the care of students at least one nebulizer in the office of the school nurse or a similar accessible location, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:40-12.7.

(f) Each student medical examination shall be conducted at the medical home of the student. If a student does not have a medical home, the school district shall provide the examination at the school physician's office or other comparably equipped facility, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:40-4.

(g) The findings of required examinations under (h)2 through 5 below shall include the following components:

1. Immunizations pursuant to N.J.A.C. 8:57-4.1 through 4.24;

2. Medical history, including allergies, past serious illnesses, injuries, operations, medications, and current health problems;

3. Health screenings including height, weight, hearing, blood pressure and vision; and

4. Physical examinations.

(h) Each school district shall ensure that students receive medical examinations in accordance with (f) above and:

1. Prior to participation on a school-sponsored interscholastic or intramural athletic team or squad for students enrolled in any grades six to 12;

i. The examination shall be conducted within 365 days prior to the first day of official practice in an athletic season and shall be conducted by a licensed physician, advanced practice nurse (APN), or physician assistant (PA).

ii. The physical examination shall be documented using the Preparticipation Physical Evaluation (PPE) form developed jointly by the American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Sports Medicine, American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, and American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine and available at http://www.nj.gov/education/safety/health/athlete/docs/athleticphysicalsform.pdf, in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:40-41.7.

(1) Prior to performing a preparticipation physical examination, the licensed physician, APN, or PA who performs the student-athlete's physical examination shall complete the Student-Athlete Cardiac Screening professional development module and shall sign the certification statement on the PPE form attesting to the completion, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:40-41d.

(A) If the PPE form is submitted without the signed certification statement and the school district has confirmed that the licensed physician, APN, or PA from the medical home did not complete the module, the student-athlete's parent may obtain a physical examination from a physician who can certify completion of the module or request that the school physician provides the examination.

(2) The medical report shall indicate if a student is allowed or not allowed to participate in the required sports categories and shall be completed and signed by the original examining physician, APN, or PA.

(3) An incomplete form shall be returned to the student's medical home for completion unless the school nurse can provide documentation to the school physician that the missing information is available from screenings completed by the school nurse or physician within the prior 365 days.

iii. Each student whose medical examination was completed more than 90 days prior to the first day of official practice in an athletic season shall provide a health history update questionnaire completed and signed by the student's parent or guardian. The completed health history update questionnaire shall include information as required by N.J.S.A. 18A:40-41.7.b.

iv. Each school district shall provide to the parent written notification signed by the school physician stating approval of the student's participation in athletics based upon the medical report or the reasons for the school physician's disapproval of the student's participation.

v. A district board of education, or a governing board or chief school administrator of a nonpublic school, shall not permit a student enrolled in grades six to 12 to participate on a school-sponsored interscholastic or intramural athletic team or squad unless the student submits a PPE form signed by the licensed physician, APN, or PA who performed the physical examination and, if applicable, a completed health history update questionnaire, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:40-41.7.c;

vi. Each school district and nonpublic school shall distribute to a student-athlete and the student-athlete's parent or guardian the sudden cardiac arrest pamphlet developed by the Commissioner, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health, the American Heart Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:40-41.

(1) A student-athlete and the student-athlete's parent or guardian annually shall sign the Commissioner-developed form that they received and reviewed the pamphlet, and shall return it, to the student's school pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:40-41.d.

(2) The Commissioner shall update the pamphlet, as necessary, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:40-41.b.

(3) The Commissioner shall distribute the pamphlet, at no charge, to all school districts and nonpublic schools, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:40-41.b.

2. Upon enrollment in school;

i. Each school district shall require parents to provide within 30 days of enrollment entry-examination documentation for each student.

ii. When a student transfers to another school, the sending school district shall ensure the entry-examination documentation is forwarded to the receiving school district pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:16-2.4(d).

iii. Students transferring into a New Jersey school from out-of-State or out-of-country may be allowed a 30-day period to obtain entry-examination documentation.

iv. Each school district shall notify parents through its website or other means about the importance of obtaining subsequent medical examinations of the student at least once during each developmental stage: at early childhood (preschool through grade three), pre-adolescence (grade four through six), and adolescence (grade seven through 12);

3. When applying for working papers;

i. Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 34:2-21.7 and 21.8(3), the school district may provide for the administration of a medical examination for a student pursuing a certificate of employment.

ii. The school district shall not be held responsible for the costs for examinations at the student's medical home or other medical providers;

4. For the purposes of the comprehensive child study team evaluation pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:14-3.4; and

5. When a student is suspected of being under the influence of alcohol or controlled dangerous substances, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:40A-12 and N.J.A.C. 6A:16-4.3.

i. If a student who is suspected of being under the influence of alcohol or controlled dangerous substances is reported to the certified school nurse, the certified school nurse shall monitor the student's vital signs and general health status for emergent issues and take appropriate action pending the medical examination pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:16-4.3.

ii. No school staff shall interfere with a student receiving a medical examination for suspicion of being under the influence of alcohol or controlled dangerous substances pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:16-4.3.

(i) Each public and nonpublic school shall have available and maintain an automated external defibrillator (AED), pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:40-41a.a(1) and (3), that is:

1. In an unlocked location on school property, with an appropriate identifying sign;

2. Accessible during the school day and any other time when a school-sponsored athletic event or team practice is taking place in which pupils of the school district or nonpublic school are participating; and

3. Within a reasonable proximity of the school athletic field or gymnasium, as applicable.

(j) The district board of education shall make accessible information regarding the NJ FamilyCare Program to students who are knowingly without medical coverage pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:40-34.

(k) Information concerning a student's HIV/AIDS status shall not be required as part of the medical examination or health history pursuant to N.J.S.A. 26:5C-1 et seq.

(l) Each district board of education shall ensure that students receive health screenings.

1. Screening for height, weight and blood pressure shall be conducted annually for each student in kindergarten through grade 12.

2. Screening for visual acuity shall be conducted biennially for students in kindergarten through grade 10.

3. Screening for auditory acuity shall be conducted annually for students in kindergarten through grade three and in grades seven and 11 pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:40-4.

4. Screening for scoliosis shall be conducted biennially for students between the ages of 10 and 18 pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:40-4.3.

5. Screenings shall be conducted by a school physician, school nurse, or other school personnel properly trained.

6. The school district shall notify the parent of any student suspected of deviation from the recommended standard.

N.J. Admin. Code § 6A:16-2.2

Amended by R.2003 d.326, effective 8/4/2003.
See: 35 N.J.R. 1503(a), 35 N.J.R. 3610(a).
In (f), substituted "A biennial" for "An annual" in the introductory paragraph and added 1 and 2.
Amended by R.2003 d.358, effective 9/2/2003.
See: 35 N.J.R. 1801(a), 35 N.J.R. 4052(a).
Rewrote (b); in (h)5, added the second and third sentences.
Repeal and New Rule, R.2006 d.366, effective 10/16/2006.
See: 38 N.J.R. 2294(a), 38 N.J.R. 4411(c).
Section was "Required student medical examinations".
Amended by R.2007 d.184, effective 6/4/2007.
See: 39 N.J.R. 294(a), 39 N.J.R. 2243(a).
In (i), substituted "district board of education" for "school district".
Amended by R.2014 d.047, effective 3/17/2014.
See: 45 N.J.R. 987(a), 46 N.J.R. 505(a).
Rewrote the section.
Amended by R.2015 d.158, effective 10/5/2015.
See: 47 N.J.R. 569(a), 47 N.J.R. 2492(b).
In the introductory paragraph of (g), substituted "(h)2" for "(h)1"; rewrote (h); added new (i); and recodified former (i) through (k) as (j) through (l).
Amended by R.2021 d.073, effective 7/19/2021.
See: 53 N.J.R. 197(a), 53 N.J.R. 1216(a).
In (b), substituted "the principal's" for "his or her", and "at" for "in"; and in the introductory paragraph of (h)1vi and (h)1vi(1), substituted "the student-athlete's" for "his or her".

Administrative Change, 55 N.J.R. 1004(b), effective 4/20/2023