State Requirements

A Dental exam is required upon entrance to school (Kindergarten or grade 1), third and seventh grades. Parents are urged to have these examinations performed by family dentists because they have the facilities in their offices to provide thorough examinations and are in the best position to recommend immediate steps for any needed care.

Dental examination forms are available in each school.    Examination forms completed by the family dentist should be returned to the school by September.

Parents/Guardians may request that the School District Dentist examine their child. There is no charge for the dental exam. Written permission from the parent/guardian must be provided. Download the permission form here.

Students must meet the the requirements of Pennsylvania Immunization law to attend school in Pennsylvania.

• School Vaccination Requirements  for Attendance in Pennsylvania Schools
• More detailed information about PA immunization law can be found here.

We encourage you to contact your health care provider or the School Nurse if you have questions about your child’s immunizations.  Your prompt cooperation is required if you receive a notification regarding missing immunizations to avoid your child’s exclusion from school. 

Pennsylvania School Health Law requires a physical examination upon entrance to school (kindergarten or first grade) and in grades six and eleven. Examinations done by a family physician within one year before the opening of the school term are acceptable by state regulations.

Parents/Guardians are encouraged to take their children to their family physician for these examinations to provide continuity of care. The family physician is familiar with your child and thus is better able to detect any physical changes, begin treatment if indicated and to follow through with needed care and immunization boosters.

Parents/Guardians may request that the School District physician provide the mandated physical exam. This is an abbreviated exam, which is provided at no cost to the parent. Parents/Guardians are notified of the date of the exam and are welcome to attend. The School exam requires written parental/guardian permission. Parents/Guardians are notified of abnormal findings and/or need for further immunizations.

Please keep the School Nurse informed of any corrections, treatments or immunization boosters that your child has received so that your child's health record is current. Up to date information is essential in emergency situation.

Physical Examination forms for the private physician are available at each school and online here.

Pennsylvania State Law mandates specific screenings for students in certain grades within each school year. The School Nurses do many of the screenings in the fall. Dates of screenings are posted in the School Calendars. Please contact the School Nurse if you have any questions about screenings.

Listed below are some of the mandated health screenings:

Hearing Screenings: Screening occurs in grades K, 1, 2, 3, 7 and 11 and may be done yearly for students with special needs.

Vision Screening: Annually in all grades.

Growth Screening: Height and weight are recorded annually for each student.

Scoliosis Screening: This mandated screening for spinal curvature is done in grades six and seven during the latter half of the school year. Those who have completed a sixth grade physical exam with results of scoliosis screening documented by their private physician are excused from the screening. Those who have not returned a sixth grade physical and all those students in grade seven must provide written parent/guardian approval in order to be screened.

Permission forms will be sent to all indicated students in grades six and seven in January of each school year. Parents/Guardians will be contacted if their child does not pass the health screenings and will be referred to the appropriate health care provider.

LMSD Tuberculosis Testing Requirements for Students

In compliance with regulations of the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PADOH) and the Montgomery County Office of Public Health (MCOPH), the Lower Merion School District requires documentation of a negative tuberculosis test that was performed in the United States for students who meet designated criteria.

TB Test Required:

• Students who are new to the district and were born or have been living in an area where TB is endemic as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO).
• Have spent more than 90 days in a country where TB is endemic in the last 5 years.
  • Endemic Areas as defined by WHO are listed here.

Students who meet the above criteria will provide a signed, written report of all TB tests or assessments completed by a licensed medical provider in order for the student to attend school. The following tests will be accepted, but must have been performed in the United States.

1. A negative TB skin test (TST) in the absence of interval symptoms suggestive of TB or potential new TB exposure. (TB test results must be reported in “mm” as either negative (0-9 mm) or positive (>10mm)).
2. A chest x-ray (PA and lateral) negative for TB in the absence of interval symptoms suggestive of TB or potential new TB exposure.
3. A negative QuantiFERON-TB Gold-In Tube (QFT-GIT) blood test in the absence of interval symptoms suggestive of TB or potential new TB exposure.

A new student with a positive TB skin test or QFT-GIT** will require the following to start school:

1. A chest x-ray (PA and lateral) negative for TB, and&
2. A written report from a licensed medical provider stating that the individual has no evidence of active TB.

**New students with a positive TB skin test or QFT-GIT blood test, but a normal chest x-ray and no symptoms of active TB, will be referred to their licensed medical provider for further evaluation.

Students who have received a live-virus vaccination within 42 days

Students may have TB testing and receive live-virus vaccines (measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), live virus varicella, yellow fever, or live –attenuated influenza) at the same clinic visit. However, the TB test must be administered with a minimum interval of 42 days between any one of these vaccines and the TB test if the vaccine given was not given on the same day as the TB test.

Note: If the TB skin testing is medically deferred, the student must have a TB symptom assessment completed by a licensed medical provider to screen for signs of pulmonary TB. After the 42 days, a negative TB skin test will be required. If the student demonstrates symptoms of active TB, he/she will be required to have a negative chest x-ray and will be referred to his/her health care provider for further evaluation.

The LMSD Health Services team consults with the Montgomery County Office of Public Health when there are questions about a student’s status.

The MCOPH provides eligible students and families with TB screening, testing and treatment. Information can be found here.