An Administrator's Guide to California Private School Law

Chapter 21 – Child Care Centers/Preschools

D. M EDICAL R EQUIREMENTS A ND S ERVICES

1. C HILD M EDICAL A SSESSMENTS A preschool must obtain a physician’s written medical assessment of each child, before or within 30 days of the enrollment of that child, to ensure that it can provide that child’s necessary health- related services. 2889 This medical assessment must not be more than one year old when obtained and must set forth the child’s prescribed medications, special problems or needs, history of infectious or contagious diseases, ambulatory status, and the results of the child’s tuberculosis test. 2890 A child can be exempt from this requirement if his or her parents adhere to a religious faith that practices healing by prayer or spiritual means. To be eligible for this exemption, the parents must provide the preschool with information on the child’s health history and sign a statement stating they: (1) accept full responsibility for their child’s health; (2) refuse to obtain a medical examination for the child; and (3) request that no medical care be provided to the child. 2891 2. I MMUNIZATIONS Prior to admission to a child care center, children must be immunized against diseases as required by California Code of Regulations, Title 17, beginning with Section 6000. 2892 A child who does not meet the immunization requirements may not be admitted to the preschool. 2893 Preschools are no longer permitted to accept personal or religious belief letters or affidavits to exempt children from vaccinations. 2894 The preschool must document each child’s immunizations and maintain that documentation at the preschool for as long as the child is enrolled. 2895 3. H EALTH -R ELATED S ERVICES Child care centers can only provide nonmedical care and supervision to children. 2896 However, this limitation does not relieve child care centers from providing health-related services for less- serious injuries, or making prompt arrangements to obtain medical treatment for a child, when necessary. 2897 Preschools must continually observe the behavior and health of the children attending the preschool. 2898 When a child is brought to the facility, the preschool must initially observe the child to ensure he or she does not have any obvious signs of illness, and then have the parent sign the child in. 2899 Preschools must ensure children with obvious symptoms of illness, such as fever and vomiting, are not accepted or are isolated from the other children. 2900 Preschools must pay special attention to children who have recently been exposed to a contagious disease, or have been absent because of illness, to ensure they do not show symptoms of an illness. 2901 If the child’s illness is severe enough to require isolation, the preschool must place and supervise the child in the isolation area. 2902 Preschools have a duty to document injuries to children and to notify parents when a child is injured. The preschool must immediately notify a child’s parent or legal guardian if the child

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