Public Health Requirements by Grade

• Immunizations
• Student Vision Card

• Immunizations 
  • An approved certificate from IDPH is required to enroll. Families need to submit a copy of their child’s record to the school.
• Student Vision Card
  • Schools will provide a Student Vision Card to all registering preschool learners.

• Immunizations
  • School nurses review records and may issue provisional certificates in collaboration with their local public health department to audit the process.
  • Children are not allowed to enroll without providing a certificate.
  • Provisionals that expire without receipt of a valid certificate from parents require school administration officials to exclude the learner.
• Student Vision Card
  • Schools are required to provide the Student Vision Card to all enrolling preschoolers.
  • Vision cards can be ordered from the Iowa Optometric Association.

• Immunizations
• Dental Screening
• Blood Lead Screening
• Vision Screening

• Immunizations
  • An approved certificate from IDPH is required to enroll. Families need to submit a copy of their child’s record to the school.
• Dental Screening
  • The screening must occur no earlier than age 3 and no later than four months after enrollment.
  • A licensed dentist, dental hygienist, physician, physician assistant, RN, or ARNP can complete the screening. 
  • The screening must use the IDPH Certificate of Dental Screening.
• Blood Lead Screening
  • All children are required to have at least one lead test. There is no need for parents to  provide this health record to your child’s school
  • Schools will inform parents of children who need to be tested.
• Vision Screening
  • All children are required to have a vision screening no earlier than 1 year prior to and no later than six months after enrollment. 
  • An ophthalmologist, pediatrician, physician, or professional licensed for this test can perform the screening.

• Immunizations
  • School nurses review records and may issue provisional certificates in collaboration with their local public health department to audit the process.
  • Children are not allowed to enroll without providing a certificate.
  • Provisionals that expire without receipt of a valid certificate from parents require school administration officials to exclude the learner.
• Dental Screening
  • School nurses will collect dental screening information and provide information to I-Smile Coordinators who are conducting the audit process for compliance. 
  • There is no school exclusion for this requirement.
• Blood Lead Screening
  • Schools will collect demographic information in a spreadsheet and provide it to the Iowa Department of Public Health. 
  • Schools do not need to collect results of blood lead testing. 
  • IDPH compares statewide lead data with the demographic information to see which children need a blood lead test. 
  • Schools inform parents if their child needs a test. 
  • IDPH audits the number of referrals and the number of completed tests.
• Vision Screening
  • Schools are required to provide the Student Vision Card to all enrolling parents or guardians. 
  • Vision cards can be ordered from the Iowa Optometric Association.
  • School nurses may enter the screening results in IRIS to provide proof of compliance by the school.

• Vision Screenings

• Vision Screenings
  • All students must have a vision screening no earlier than 1 year prior to enrollment and no more than 6 months after.
  • An ophthalmologist, pediatrician, physician or professional licensed for this test can perform the screening. 
  • Schools will provide vision screenings for families.

• Vision Screenings
  • School nurses can collaborate with community providers or conduct the vision screenings directly.
  • School nurses may enter the screening results in IRIS to provide proof of compliance by the school.

• Immunizations

• Immunizations
  • Students entering 7th grade are required to have one dose of the following vaccines: 
    • Tdap – Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis
    • Meningococcal Conjugate

• Immunizations
  • There is no provisional period to implement this requirement. 
  • Students without receipt of a valid certificate from parents require school administration officials to exclude the student.

• Dental Screenings

• Dental Screenings
  • All students entering 9th grade are required to have a dental screening. 
  • A licensed dentist or dental hygienist can perform the screening. 
  • The screening must use the IDPH Certificate of Dental Screening.

• Dental Screening
  • School nurses will collect dental screening information and provide information to I-Smile Coordinators who are conducting the audit process for compliance. 
  • There is no school exclusion for this requirement.

• Immunizations

• Immunizations
  • Students entering 12th grade born on or after September 15, 1999, are required to have two doses of the Meningococcal Conjugate vaccine (or one dose if a previous dose was received when the student was 16 years old or older).    

• Immunizations
  • There is no provisional period to implement this requirement if the student has received no meningococcal conjugate vaccine.
  • Students without receipt of a valid certificate from parents require the school administration officials to exclude the student.
  • Provisionals that expire without receipt of a certificate from parents require school administration officials to exclude the student.

For more information on immunization requirements and waivers, please visit Iowa's Health & Human Services - Immunizations. A Statement of Exemption to Immunization Law form is available to download and complete. 

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