2005 North Carolina Code - General Statutes Article 18 - Health Assessments for Kindergarten Children in the Public Schools.

Article 18.

Health Assessments for Kindergarten Children in the Public Schools.

§ 130A‑440.� Health assessment required.

(a)������ Every child in this State entering kindergarten in the public schools shall receive a health assessment. The health assessment shall be made no more than 12 months prior to the date of school entry. No child shall attend kindergarten unless a health assessment transmittal form, developed pursuant to G.S. 130A‑441, indicating that the child has received the health assessment required by this section, is presented to the school principal. The medical provider, or the parent, guardian, or person in loco parentis, must present a completed health assessment transmittal form to the principal of the school on or before the child's first day of attendance. If a health assessment transmittal form is not presented on or before the first day, the principal shall present a notice of deficiency to the parent, guardian, or responsible person. The parent, guardian, or responsible person shall have 30 calendar days from the first day of attendance to present the required health assessment transmittal form for the child. Upon termination of 30 calendar days, the principal shall not permit the child to attend the school until the required health assessment transmittal form has been presented.

(b)������ A health assessment shall include a medical history and physical examination with screening for vision and hearing and, if appropriate, testing for anemia and tuberculosis. The health assessment may also include dental screening and developmental screening for cognition, language, and motor function.

(c)������ The health assessment shall be conducted by a physician licensed to practice medicine, a physician's assistant as defined in G.S. 90‑18.1(a), a certified nurse practitioner, or a public health nurse meeting the Department's Standards for Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment Screening.

(d)������ This Article shall not apply to children entering kindergarten in private church schools, schools of religious charter, or qualified nonpublic schools, regulated by Article 39 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes. (1985 (Reg. Sess., 1986), c. 1017, s. 1; 1987, c. 114, s. 1; 1989, c. 727, s. 155; 1993, c. 124, s. 1; 1995, c. 123, s. 10.)

 

§ 130A‑440.1.� (Effective beginning with the 2006‑2007 school year) Comprehensive eye examination required.

(a)������ Every child in this State entering kindergarten in the public schools shall obtain a comprehensive eye examination pursuant to the terms of this section not more than six months prior to the date of school entry.

(b)������ The comprehensive eye examination required under this section shall be conducted by an optometrist or ophthalmologist licensed to practice in this State. No child shall attend kindergarten unless a comprehensive eye examination transmittal form, developed pursuant to G.S. 130A‑441, indicating that the child has received the comprehensive eye examination required by this section, is presented to the school principal, except in cases where the child has moved to North Carolina within the 60 days immediately preceding school entry, in which case the child shall have 60 days from the date of school entry to submit the eye examination transmittal form required under this section. In the event a child is unable to obtain services after the 60‑day period has elapsed, the principal shall report this information to the Commission so that the Commission may identify alternative ways to provide services to these children.

The comprehensive eye examination shall consist of a complete and thorough examination of the eye and human visual system that includes an evaluation, determination, and diagnosis of:

(1)������ Visual acuity at distance and near;

(2)������ Alignment and ocular motility;

(3)������ Binocular fusion abnormalities, including tracking;

(4)������ Actual refractive errors, including verification by subject means;

(5)������ Any color vision disorder;

(6)������ Intraocular pressure as may be medically appropriate; and

(7)������ Ocular health, including internal and external assessment.

Health assessment vision screening under G.S. 130A‑440 does not meet the requirements of this section.

(c)������ The comprehensive eye examination transmittal form shall contain a summary of the comprehensive eye examination performed by the optometrist or ophthalmologist. Any treatment recommendations by the optometrist or ophthalmologist, such as spectacles for schoolwork, shall appear in the summary and school health card.

(d)������ This section shall not apply to children entering kindergarten in private church schools, schools of religious charter, or qualified nonpublic schools regulated by Article 39 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes.

(e)������ G.S. 130A‑441, 130A‑442, and 130A‑443, pertaining to health assessments, apply to comprehensive eye examinations required under this section. (2005‑276, s. 10.59F(g); 2005‑345, s. 20(d).)

 

§ 130A‑441.� Reporting.

(a)������ Health assessment results shall be submitted to the school principal by the medical provider on health assessment transmittal forms developed by the Department and the Department of Public Instruction.

(b)������ Each school having a kindergarten shall maintain on file the health assessment results. The files shall be open to inspection by the Department, the Department of Public Instruction, or their authorized representatives and persons inspecting the files shall maintain the confidentiality of the files. Upon transfer of a child to another kindergarten, a copy of the health assessment results shall be provided upon request and without charge to the new kindergarten.

(c)������ Within 60 calendar days after the commencement of a new school year, the principal shall file a health assessment status report with the Department on forms developed by the Department and the Department of Public Instruction. The report shall document the number of children in compliance and not in compliance with G.S. 130A‑440(a). (1985 (Reg. Sess., 1986), c. 1017, s. 1; 1987, c. 114, s. 2; 1989, c. 727, s. 156; 1993, c. 124, s. 2.)

 

§ 130A‑442.� Religious exemption.

If the bona fide religious beliefs of the parent, guardian or person in loco parentis of a child are contrary to the health assessment requirements contained in this Article, this Article shall not apply to the child. Upon submission of a written statement of the bona fide religious beliefs and opposition to the health assessment requirements, the child may attend kindergarten without submitting a health assessment report. (1985 (Reg. Sess., 1986), c. 1017, s. 1; 1987, c. 114, s. 2.)

 

§ 130A‑443.� Rules.

Rules governing the contents for health assessment reports, the procedure for reporting under this Article, and those persons authorized to inspect the files shall be developed jointly by the Department of Public Instruction and the Commission for Health Services and shall be adopted by the Commission for Health Services. (1985 (Reg. Sess., 1986), c. 1017, s. 1; 1987, c. 114, s. 2.)