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 or by clicking here. 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. Click here to download the permission form.

There have been significant changes to Immunization Law in Pennsylvania. Students who do not meet the requirements detailed below may be excluded from school on September 13, 2018 in accordance with the law. The requirements and changes are listed in detail below. We encourage you to contact your health care provider, the School Nurse or the Montgomery County Health Department (www.montcopa.org/schoolvaccinelaw or 610 278-5117) if you have questions about the requirements.  During the summer months, you may contact an LMSD School Nurse at 610 645-1455, 610 658 3977 or 610 645-1829.  

28 PA.CODE CH 23.83 (School Immunization) and 28 PA.CODE CH 23.2 (Medical Examination) require the following:

Evidence of Immunization: Pennsylvania school health regulations require students to be properly immunized and provide verification to attend school.

NEW for September 2017:

• Students must have at least one dose in a series of a specific vaccine to attend the first day of school in September.
• If the student has at least one dose and additional doses are necessary and medically appropriate during the first 5 days of school, the student must obtain the next scheduled dose in the first 5 days of school and provide a medical certificate from the health care provider detailing the schedule of any remaining doses. Students who do not have the next dose and have not provided the medical certificate from the health care provided will be excluded from school on September 13 in accordance with 28PA.CODE CH 23.83 requirements. Students may return to school when they have received the next dose or have provided the medical certificate from the health care provider detailing the schedule of the remaining doses.
• If the child has at least one doses and additional doses of the vaccine are necessary but not medically appropriate during the first 5 days of school, the parent/guardian must provide a medical certificate detailing the schedule of remaining doses.
• New requirement for students entering grade 7: 1 dose of tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap) and 1 dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV)
• New Requirement for students entering Grade 12: Second dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV). A dose of MCV received at 16 years of age or older shall count as the 12th grade dose.
• Exemptions to the new requirement include:
  1. Students who have a completed certificate of medical or religious exemption
  2. Students who are homeless
  3. Students who are transferring from a school or country outside of Pennsylvania may have up to 30 days to complete the immunization series or provide a medical certificate with schedule of completion. These students must have at least one dose of all required immunizations on the first day of school.

According to 28 PA.CODE CH 23.83 (School Immunization) the following immunizations are required:

• Four doses of tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis (1 dose on or after the 4th birthday), usually given as DTP, DTaP.
• Four doses of polio vaccine (oral (OPV) or injectable (IPV). A 4th dose is not necessary if a third dose was administered at age 4 years or older and at least 6 months after the previous dose.
• Two doses of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, the 1st dose administered at 12 months of age or older.
• Three properly spaced doses of hepatitis B vaccine
• Two doses of varicella (chicken pox) or history of disease.
• *For students entering Grade 7
  • 1 dose of tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap)
  • 1 dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV).
• *For students entering Grade 12
  • 2nd dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV).
    A dose of MCV received at 16 years of age or older shall count as the 12th grade dose.

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.

School District 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.