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  2. Health Screenings

Health Screenings

  • Vision and Hearing Screenings
    • In compliance with Health and Safety Code, Chapter 36, all students will undergo screening for abnormal hearing and vision problems according to the following schedule:
      • Students who are 4 years old by September 1
      • Students in Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 3rd Grade, 5th Grade, and 7th Grade
      • Students who are new to Texas schools
    • Exception and Exemption
      • A student is exempt from screening requirements if screening conflicts with the tenets and practices of a recognized church or religious denomination of which the individual is an adherent or a member. To qualify for the exemption, the individual or, if the individual is a minor, the minor’s parent, managing conservator, or guardian, must submit to the school’s health office on or before the day of admission an affidavit stating the objections to screening.
  • Acanthosis Nigricans Screening
    • During vision/hearing screenings of 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th graders in public and private schools, certified individuals assess children for the acanthosis nigricans marker, a skin condition that signals high insulin levels. Children who are positively identified with the marker undergo additional assessments of body mass index (BMI), BMI percentile, and blood pressure. Referrals are issued to the parents of these children, alerting each parent of their child’s risk factors and encouraging further evaluation from a health professional. Becoming aware of and understanding what the risk factors suggest can help stimulate the changes necessary to prevent or delay future health problems for children at risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes and other conditions.
  • Spinal Screening
    • In compliance with Health and Safety Code, Chapter 37, all children shall undergo screening for abnormal spinal curvature in accordance with the following schedule:
      • Girls will be screened two times, once at age 10 (or fall semester of 5th grade) and again at age 12 (or fall semester of 7th grade)
      • Boys will be screened one time at age 13 or 14 (or fall semester of 8th grade)
    • Exceptions and Exemptions
      • A student may be exempt from screening if:
        • The student is already actively under medical care by an appropriately licensed professional for one or more of the spinal problems for which spinal screening is performed. To claim this exception, the student must submit signed and dated documentation from the licensed professional to the school. The documentation must state that the student is under active, ongoing medical care for specific spinal problems.
        • A student’s parent or legal guardian executes an affidavit stating that spinal screening will be conducted by an individual other than the screener used by the school. The school may admit the student on a provisional basis for up to 60 days. The school may deny admission until the screening record of the student is provided.
        • The screening conflicts with the tenets and practices of a recognized church or religious denomination of which the individual is a member. The parent or legal guardian must submit to the school an affidavit in lieu of the screening record stating the conflict. The affidavit must be submitted on or before the date spinal screening is scheduled.