Series 5000: Students

5141.22 Communicable/Infectious Diseases

The Board of Education recognizes that all children in Connecticut have a constitutional right to a  free, suitable program of educational experiences. The Board will establish reasonable health  requirements as prerequisites to admission or attendance including the requirement that students  undergo physical examination prior to admission. 

Where it can be medically established that a student suffers from a serious infectious disease and  there is a significant risk of transmission of the disease to others due to the nature of the disease or  personal characteristics of the student carrier, it may be appropriate to exclude the student from the  regular classroom. The determination of exclusion of any student will be made on a case by case  basis with the appropriate procedural due process safeguards. Where the risk of transmission is relatively low or appropriate procedures can be adopted to reduce the risk of transmission exclusion  is not warranted. 

A child with an infectious disease may be considered handicapped, if the child presents such  physical impairment that limits one or more major life activities. Therefore, Section 504 of the  Rehabilitation Act may apply. The parent/guardian or the school administration may made a  referral for determination whether the student is handicapped and entitled to protection under  Section 504. The Planning and Placement Team will conduct an Individual Placement Program  (IPP) to determine whether the student is handicapped or is "otherwise qualified" within the  meaning of Section 504. The student will be educated in the least restrictive environment. 

The District will include as part of its emergency procedure plan a description of the actions to be  taken by District personnel in case of pandemic flu outbreak or other catastrophe that disrupts  District Operations. 

(cf. 5111 - Admission) 

(cf. 5141.3 - Health Assessments and Immunizations) 

(cf. 6159 - Individualized Education Program) 

Legal Reference:

Connecticut General Statutes 

"Education for Children with Disabilities", 20 U.S.C. 1400, et seq. Section  504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. 706(7)(b) 

“Americans with Disabilities Act” 

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, (FERPA), 20  U.S.C. 1232g, 45 C.F.R. 99.

10-76(d)(15) Duties and powers of boards of education to provide special education programs and services.

10-154a Professional communications between teacher or nurse and student.

10-207 Duties of medical advisors.

10-209 Records not to be public.

10-210 Notice of disease to be given parent or guardian.

19a-221 Quarantine of certain persons.

19a-581-585 AIDS testing and medical information.

Policy adopted: February 12, 2018 THOMASTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS Thomaston, Connecticut

DISEASE/EXCLUSION FROM SCHOOL POLICY

Chicken pox 

6 days or until lesions are crusted

Conjunctivitis 

Has received appropriate therapy for 24 hours and has  permission from the physician to return to school

Elevated Temperature 

(100 degrees or over)

A full 24 hours after the child is afebrile (99.9 degrees or  lower)

German Measles (Rubella) 

7 days after onset of rash

Impetigo 

Has received appropriate medically prescribed therapy for  24 hrs. and has permission from the physician to return to  school

Hepatitis 

Has physician’s permission to return to school

Infectious Mononucleosis 

No set time – only while illness lasts, has permission from  physician to return to school

Measles 

5 days after appearance of rash

Meningitis 

No set time – only while illness lasts, has permission from  physician to return to school

Mumps 

Until swelling has subsided or not less than 9 days after  onset of parotid swelling

Pediculosis 

Until hair is clear – no appearance of live nits and has  used prescribed shampoo or over-the-counter treatment,  especially for the treatment of head lice

Ringworm of Scalp 

None, if under proper treatment

Scabies 

Has received appropriate medically prescribed treatment  for 24 hrs. and has permission from physician to return to  school

Streptococcal Infection 

Has received appropriate therapy for 24 hours and has  permission from physician to return to school

Fifth Disease

Excluding children from school is not recommended as a public health measure

Children excluded from school with any of the above health problems must be evaluated by the  school nurse before returning to the classroom.