The School Health Program facilitates the healthy growth and development of children of school age in Pennsylvania. The School Health Program serves all children of school age attending public and non-public schools in Pennsylvania. This program prevents and detects health problems, and maintains and improves the health status of students.

School health programs and services impact on the health status and well-being of more than 1.9 million school age children in the Commonwealth’s public and non-public schools.  Article XIV of the Pennsylvania Public School Code provides that all children attending public, private, and parochial schools receive school health services. These services include nursing services, including the treatment of acute and chronic conditions, first aid, and emergency care; medical and dental examinations and five different health screenings (growth, vision, hearing, scoliosis, and tuberculosis) at specified intervals; medication administration; health counseling and health promotion; maintenance of student health records; and assessment for school immunizations. Article XXV of the Code provides for Health Department reimbursement to 500 school districts, 11 full-time comprehensive vocational technical schools and over 100 Charter Schools for a portion of the costs associated with the provision of these school health services.

Community Health Nurses in the Department's State Health Centers are available to provide information, consultation, technical assistance, training, and coordination of programs and services to schools, parents, and the community at large regarding school health programs and services. Please direct any inquiries to the Community Health Nurse for your area. 

Updated: June 11, 2013