Public Health Requirements by Grade

Voluntary Preschool

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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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.