Health Office

HEALTH GUIDANCE FOR GOING TO SCHOOL

Showing up to school every day is critical for children’s well-being, engagement and learning.  

Make sure to send children to school if they are:

• Generally healthy and well
• Participating in usual day-to-day activities

Children can even go to school if they:

• Have a mild cold, which may include a runny nose and/or cough
• Have occasional eye drainage without fever, eye pain or eyelid redness
• Have a mild stomach ache
• Have a mild rash with no other symptoms
• Have head lice. Though they are annoying and should be treated, lice are not a reason to exclude a child from school
• Haven't had a fever in 24 hours and have not taken fever reducing medicine during that time
• Have a family member who is sick, stressed, or hospitalized. If you are sick, your student still needs to attend school. Please plan ahead for these days. A back-up plan may be asking a neighbor, relative or spouse to take your student to school and pick them up

Avoid keeping children home unless they are too sick to participate. Please see below for details. Note that in most situations, a health-care provider's note is not needed to return.

Children may also avoid school due to anxiety (symptoms may include decreased appetite, feeling tired, stomachache, headache etc). If you are worried that your child may be suffering from anxiety, talk with your teacher, the school nurse, social worker or other school staff to discuss the challenge and identify what can help your child stay in school.

If your child has a compromised immune system or is at high risk for complications from common  illnesses, please talk to your school nurse about developing a plan with you and your child's health-care  provider to keep your child healthy and safe while attending school. 

If you don’t know whether to send your child to school or have specific concerns regarding your child's health, contact your child’s health-care provider, a local urgent care or the school nurse.

STUDENT ABSENCE

It is important to report your child’s absence each day your child misses school. Please call the school and report your child’s:

• Name
• Grade
• Reason for absence
• If your child has symptoms of, or has been diagnosed with, any communicable diseases (such as influenza, chicken pox, strep throat, COVID-19, etc) please provide that information to the health office staff

ILLNESS AT SCHOOL

• If your child becomes ill at school and needs to go home, the health office staff will contact a parent/guardian
• It is important for parents/guardians to provide current contact information and update the school with any changes
• It is important for parents/guardians to provide 1-2 emergency contacts that are will be called in the event parents/guardians cannot be reached
• If staff are unable to reach parents/guardians and determine that the student must go home, the emergency contacts will then be called
• Your child will not be allowed to leave with any person who is not listed as an emergency contact unless verbal permission is obtained by a parent/guardian to allow an alternate person to pick up your student

CLASSROOM NOTIFICATIONS

Saint Paul Public Schools takes guidance from Saint Paul Ramsey County Public Health, Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and follows guidelines for disease prevention and control.

If health staff become aware of three or more cases of potentially contagious illness or health conditions within a classroom over the course of a month, a notification will be sent to the classroom (building as needed).

Diseases and/or health conditions for which notifications will be sent by the school nurse based on the three or more known cases in a classroom include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Covid 19
• Croup
• Fifth disease (parvovirus)
• Head Lice
• Impetigo
• Influenza
• Meningococcal disease
• Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
• Norovirus
• Pneumonia
• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection
• Ringworm
• Scabies
• Staph Infection
• Strep Throat

If your child has any of the above illnesses, please contact your school health office to determine next steps which may include exclusion information

*Please note, there are other specified communicable diseases that our Nurses are required to report to the MN Department of Health.

RESOURCES

Infectious Diseases in Childcare Settings and Schools Manual

Health/Physical Exams: 

Students participating in middle school, high school and/or Minnesota State High School League Sports are required to have a physical exam on file that was performed within the last three years. This physical exam must be on file in the student health record. Forms are linked here.

Immunizations:

1. Are Your Kids Ready? Minnesota K-12 Immunization Law (PDF) Updated 8/16/24
   Use this document to see what vaccines are required for your child to enroll in K-12 school in Minnesota and to document medical and non-medical exemptions.
   Translations to Hmong, Karen, Russian, Somali, Spanish and Vietnamese will be posted when available.

Contact your health care provider to obtain a copy of your child's immunization record. 

Authorizations/Releases/Consent forms:

1. Authorization for the Administration of Medication/Treatment
2. Authorization for Administration of Over-the-Counter Medication
3. Release of Information (ROI) Authorization
4. Overnight Field Trip Authorization

Specifically for students with anaphylaxis, asthma, diabetes, and/or seizures:

1. Authorization for the Administration of Medication/Treatment 
2. Allergic Reaction Questionnaire 
3. Asthma/Breathing Questionnaire
4. Diabetes Questionnaire
5. Seizure Questionnaire

Contact your health care provider to obtain a copy of your child's anaphylaxis, asthma, diabetes, and/or seizure action plan. Provide a copy to the health office at your child's school.

Special Dietary Needs/Forms

Many of today's students have special dietary needs. SPPS Nutrition Services' website offers information on how it manages specific food allergies and intolerances. When students need modifications or substitutions to the school meal, families are asked to complete a Special Diet Statement, that must be signed by a licensed healthcare provider. Families are also reminded to communicate diet needs and accommodation information to school health office staff.

Completed forms can be emailed to: student.wellness@spps.org

The Licensed School Nurse coordinates healthcare for students during the school day

• Specialized care cannot be performed without written order from a prescribing healthcare provider as well as written consent from the parent/guardian
• Healthcare provider orders must be renewed annually or whenever there is a change of service
• The supplies and equipment needed should be provided by the parent/guardian
• If your student has an emergency care plan (seizure, anaphylaxis, asthma, diabetes etc.) provide a copy to the health office
• If your child has a Special Diet, please review the following information:
  • Many of today's students have special dietary needs. SPPS Nutrition Services' website offers information on how it manages specific food allergies and intolerances. When students need modifications or substitutions to the school meal, families are asked to complete a Special Diet Statement, that must be signed by a licensed healthcare provider. Families are also reminded to communicate diet needs and accommodation information to school health office staff.

 

Due to a health condition, your student may need to take medication or have a medical procedures administered during the school day

• Written parental/guardian authorization is required for any medication given during the school day
• In cases where medication is prescribed for short-term use and required to be administered 3 times daily, students are encouraged not to bring the medication to school but to instead take their dose upon returning home in the afternoon
• Healthcare provider authorization is required for prescription medication intended to be taken for more than 2 weeks and/or if the medication is controlled
• Medication to be given in school must be supplied in the original container or prescription bottle
• Schools do not supply 'stock' over-the-counter medication such as Tylenol or Advil to students

Forms:

• Authorization for the Administration of Medication/Treatment
• Authorization for Administration of Medications for Asthma, Anaphylaxis, Diabetes, and Seizures
• Authorization for Administration of Over-the-Counter Medication

SELF-ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICATION

• State law permits select medications to be self-carried and administered by the student at school (i.e. insulin, inhaler, pain relievers) with written parent/guardian permission, and in some cases, healthcare provider authorization as well
• If a student requests to self-administer medication, the Licensed School Nurse will assess the student’s ability to administer the medication accurately and appropriately
• Students of any age with demonstrated competency can carry an inhaler (asthma medications), Epi-Pen, or insulin. However, only secondary students, grades 6-12 are allowed to carry over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers (e.g. Tylenol, Advil, and ibuprofen)
• The privilege to self-medicate can be revoked at any time if unsafe use of medication is observed

READ ABOUT THE SPPS Student Medication policy

State Law (MS 121A.15) requires all students in public schools be fully immunized or have a notarized statement exempting them from immunizations while enrolled in school. 

All students new to Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS) must bring their immunization record or exemption record to school upon enrollment.

Vaccinations given on time throughout childhood are essential to helping provide immunity to children before they are exposed to potentially life-threatening diseases. Vaccines are tested to ensure that they are safe and effective for children. 

Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule

Are Your Kids Ready? Minnesota K-12 Immunization Law (PDF) Updated 8/16/24
Use this document to see what vaccines are required for your child to enroll in K-12 school in Minnesota and to document medical and non-medical exemptions.
Translations to Hmong, Karen, Russian, Somali, Spanish and Vietnamese will be posted when available.

Resources for Immunizations:

Contact one of the following clinics to schedule an appointment for free or low cost immunizations:

• Health Start Clinics, located in SPPS high schools, 651-233-8951
• MN Community Care, multiple locations, 651-602-7500
• Open Cities Health Center-North End, 916 Rice St, 651-290-9200
• Saint Paul-Ramsey County Public Health Immunization Clinic, 555 Cedar, 651-266-1234
• United Family Medicine Clinic, 1026 W. 7th St, 651-758-9500
• Saint Paul Public Schools Placement Center, 2102 University Ave W, 651-632-3763
• Immunization Resources for Families - listing of various clinics that offer low-cost immunizations, along with hours and phone numbers 

Additional information can be found at:

• Minnesota Immunization Information Connection (MIIC): Data Privacy and MIIC Records
• Centers for Disease Control

Students participating in middle school, high school and/or Minnesota State High School League Sports are required to have a physical exam on file that was performed within the last three years. 

Sports physical eligibility forms are available on the SPPS Athletics Website linked here.  

Impaired vision and/or hearing can drastically impact a child's ability to learn. At SPPS, school health office staff are trained to identify vision and hearing issues and to work with families to find solutions. We routinely screen students onsite at school.

• SPPS works in collaboration with community partners such as Phillips Eye Institute and Helen Keller International for all students in grades K, 1, 3, 5 and 7 (when resources are available)
• Color vision screening is done each year for kindergarten boys only
• Additional vision or hearing screening may be requested by teacher, parent, or student or when a student is referred and/or evaluated for specialized services
• Parents will be notified of students who do not pass screening.  They will receive a referral form that should be completed by a healthcare provider and then returned to the school health office

• School Based Health Clinics
• Family and Community Resource Guide