All school students in Illinois are required to show proof of having met physical examination and immunization requirements prescribed by the Illinois State Board of Education. Section 27-8.1 of the Illinois School Code states: "If a child does not comply, then the local school authority shall exclude that child from school until such time the child presents proof of having had either the health examination or those required immunizations which are medically possible to receive immediately."
Documentation must be provided at registration when the student is first enrolled at the school. The dates of required immunizations must be verified by your health care provider (i.e. physician, health department, clinic, etc.). Please note that some of the immunizations are completed in a series of shots that may require several months to complete. For instance, the three
(3) Hepatitis B shots may require up to twelve (12) months to complete. It is important that you do not wait until the last minute to schedule an appointment with your health care provider.
Students will not be allowed to attend school until all
immunization requirements are met,
except for the Vision Exam
requirement, which must be met by October 15th and the Dental Exam requirement,
which must be met by May 15th of the current school year.
Kindergarten/New students
• Chicken Pox (Varicella)
All PreK-Early Childhood Education and Kindergarten students must show proof (date) of having received the VARIVAX vaccine on or after their first birthday, proof of prior varicella disease, or laboratory evidence of varicella immunity. Proof of varicella disease must be verified with:
1) Date of illness signed by a physician ("had chicken pox") is not acceptable without a date of illness.
2) A healthcare provider's interpretation that a parent or legal guardian's description of varicella disease history is indicative of past infection and a date is documented by the healthcare provider.
3) Laboratory evidence of varicell immunity.
• Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus (DPT)
Any child, five years of age or younger, entering school for the first time, must show proof (dates) of having received four (4) or more doses of DPT with the last dose being a booster and having been received on or after the 4th birthday. Individual doses in the series must have been received no less than four weeks apart, with the booster being received not less than six (6) months after the initial series.
• Polio
Any child, five years or younger, entering school for the first time, must show proof (dates) of having received three (3) or more doses of TOPV with the last dose being a booster and having been received on or after the 4th birthday. Individual doses in the series must have been received no less than four weeks apart, with the booster being received not less than six (6) months after the initial series.
• Measles
The school requirement is acceptable documentation of two (2) doses of live measles virus vaccine with the first dose administered at 12 months of age or older and the second dose no les than one month later for all students.
• Mumps/Rubella
Any child entering school in grades K-12 must show proof (date) of receiving mumps and rubella vaccine on or after the child's 1st birthday. Proof (date) of mumps, verified by a physician, may be substituted for proof of vaccination. Proof of rubella is not acceptable unless laboratory evidence is presented with blood tier of 1:16 or greater.
• Lead Screening
Illinois State law requires that all children entering school for the first time must show evidence of having completed a led screening test. A test result or physician's verification are both acceptable documentation.
• Physical Examination
• Dental Exam
All school students in Illinois are required to show proof of having dental examinations and immunization requirements as mandated by the State of Illinois (Public Act 93-946). The Act requires all children in Kindergarten and the 2nd and 6th grades of any public, private, or parochial school to have a dental examination
within 18 months of the current school year. It provides that if a child in the 2nd or 6th grade fails to present proof of having been examined by a dentist by May 15th of the school year, the school may hold the child’s report card until one of the following occurs: (a) the child presents proof of a completed dental examination or (b) the child presents proof that a dental examination will take place within 60 days after May 15th. It also requires the Department of Public Health to establish, by rule, a waiver for children who show an undue burden or a total lack of access to a dentist.
• Eye Examination
All students entering
kindergarten or an Illinois school for the first time shall present proof of a
vision examination completed within one year prior to entry of kindergarten or
the school. A physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches or
a licensed optometrist must perform the required examination. If a student fails
to present proof by the beginning of the current school year, the school may
hold the student’s report card until the student presents proof: (1) of a
completed eye examination, or (2) that an eye examination will take place within
60 days after October 15th of the current school year. The Superintendent or
designee shall ensure that Parent(s)/Guardian(s) are notified of this eye
examination requirement in compliance with the rules of the Department of Public
Health. Schools shall not exclude a student from attending school due to
failure to obtain an eye examination.
Second grade
• Dental Exam
All school students in Illinois are required to show proof of having dental examinations and immunization requirements as mandated by the State of Illinois (Public Act 93-946). The Act requires all children in Kindergarten and the 2nd and 6th grades of any public, private, or parochial school to have a dental examination
within 18 months of the current school year. It provides that if a child in the 2nd or 6th grade fails to present proof of having been examined by a dentist by May 15th of the school year, the school may hold the child’s report card until one of the following occurs: (a) the child presents proof of a completed dental examination or (b) the child presents proof that a dental examination will take place within 60 days after May 15th. It also requires the Department of Public Health to establish, by rule, a waiver for children who show an undue burden or a total lack of access to a dentist.
Fifth grade
• Hepatitis B
The Illinois School Code requires all new students and students entering 5th grade to show proof of immunity to Hepatits B. The vaccine is given in a series of three separate shots and may requrie up to twelve (12) months to complete.
• Physical Examination
Sixth grade
• Physical Examination
• Dental Exam
All school students in Illinois are required to show proof of having dental examinations and immunization requirements as mandated by the State of Illinois (Public Act 93-946). The Act requires all children in Kindergarten and the 2nd and 6th grades of any public, private, or parochial school to have a dental examination
within 18 months of the current school year. It provides that if a child in the 2nd or 6th grade fails to present proof of having been examined by a dentist by May 15th of the school year, the school may hold the child’s report card until one of the following occurs: (a) the child presents proof of a completed dental examination or (b) the child presents proof that a dental examination will take place within 60 days after May 15th. It also requires the Department of Public Health to establish, by rule, a waiver for children who show an undue burden or a total lack of access to a dentist.
Ninth grade
• Tetanus (DPT)
A Td booster is required when 10 years have elapsed since the last dose.
