2023 Indiana Code
Title 20. Education
Article 34. Student Health and Safety Measures
Chapter 3. Health and Safety Measures
20-34-3-9. Students Found to Be Ill; Medical Care; Readmission; Appeals
Sec. 9. (a) If a student is ill, has a communicable disease, or is infested with parasites, the school principal may send the student home with a note to the student's parent. The note must describe the nature of the illness or infestation and, if appropriate, recommend that the family physician be consulted.
(b) If the parent of a student who is sent home under this section is financially unable to provide the necessary medical care, the medical care shall be provided by a public health facility. If a public health facility is not available, the township trustee or an appropriate governmental agency shall provide the necessary care.
(c) A student who is sent home under this section may be readmitted to the school:
(1) when it is apparent to school officials that the student is no longer ill, no longer has a communicable disease, or is no longer infested with parasites;
(2) upon certification of a physician that the student is no longer ill, no longer has a communicable disease, or is no longer infested with parasites;
(3) upon certification of a physician that the student has a communicable disease, but the disease is not transmissible through normal school contacts; or
(4) upon certification of a Christian Science practitioner, who is listed in The Christian Science Journal, that based on the practitioner's observation the student apparently is no longer ill, no longer has a communicable disease, or is no longer infested with parasites.
If school personnel disagree with the certifying physician or Christian Science practitioner as to whether the student should be readmitted to school, the local health officer shall determine whether the student may be readmitted to school.
(d) An individual who objects to the determination made by the local health officer under this section may appeal to the commissioner of the Indiana department of health, who is the ultimate authority. IC 4-21.5 applies to appeals under this subsection.
[Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-8.1-7-8.]
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.18. Amended by P.L.56-2023, SEC.185.
