Linking Health and Learning
School health services play a vital role in health outcomes for children. The Vermont Department of Health, in collaboration with the Agency of Education, are working to optimize equity of School Health Services for all students, including:
State School Nurse Consultant
Sharonlee Trefry MSN, RN, NCSN
Vermont Department of Health, Maternal and Child Health Division
(802) 863-7348
Other School Health Service Information
School Health Screening
School Health Screening under Sec. 31. 16 V.S.A. § 1422 assures that all school health related screenings are aligned with current research and the best practice recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics. The only required, population-based, school health screening is for hearing and vision. No other population-based screenings are required nor recommended in the school setting.
Concussion Guidelines
Act No. 58, § 40 of 2011, Act No. 171, § 39a of 2011, and Act No. 68, § 2 of 2013 which are codified in 16 V.S.A. § 1431, direct the AOE to develop guidelines to assist schools in taking reasonable steps to prevent, and to minimize the effects of school athletic team-related concussions. In the creation of these guidelines, the AOE has consulted with the Vermont Department of Health, the Vermont Principals’ Association, and the Vermont School Boards Insurance Trust; we gratefully acknowledge their assistance.
The law requires that schools educate their coaches, their youth athletes, and the youth athletes’ parents and guardians regarding the prevention and mitigation concussion-related injuries. Under 16 V.S.A. § 1431, responsibility to ensure compliance with these guidelines falls on principals of public schools, and on heads of approved independent schools.
Concussion Management
Per 16 V.S.A. § 1431, (1) The principal or headmaster of each public and approved independent school in the State or a designee shall ensure that each school has a concussion management action plan that describes the procedures the school shall take when a student athlete suffers a concussion.
- Vermont School Concussion Management Toolkit contains recommended plans for Return to Learn and Return to Play.
Allergies
- Information on Allergy Management in Schools is found in the Standards of Practice: School Health Services Manual – Section 03. Allergy Management – Life Threatening.
- State Board of Education Policies on Epinephrine Auto-Injectors
Immunizations
- AOE, VDH Joint Memo on Immunization Compliance, June 6, 2017
- Information on School Entry Immunization
School Nurse Licensing Requirements
- School Nursing Licensing Requirement (Page 171)
- Associate School Nurse Licensing Requirement (Page 175)
-
New School Nurse Orientation: Contact the State School Nurse Consultant for access to the free online program for Registered Nurses who are becoming school nurses.
