Health Policy
KATHERINE ANNE PORTER SCHOOL
Health Guidance School Year 2024-2025
Illness (All Grade Levels)
State rules require schools to exclude students with certain illnesses from school for certain periods of time.
For example; if a child has a fever over 100 degrees, he or she must stay out of
school until fever-free for 24 hours without use of fever-reducing medications.
When your child is ill, please inform the school attendance clerk/teacher about the absence with reason/valid documentation.
If a student becomes ill during the school day, and the school nurse/designated staff determines that the child should go home, the nurse will contact the parent.
Students with diarrheal illnesses must stay home until they are diarrhea-free without using diarrhea-vomiting
suppressing medications for 24 hours.
The district is required to report certain contagious (communicable) diseases or illnesses to the
Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) or our local/regional health authority.
The school nurse can provide information from TDSHS on these notifiable conditions. The school nurse/designated staff is available to answer any questions for parents who are concerned about whether or not their child should stay home.
Immunization (All Grade Levels)
A student must be fully immunized against certain diseases or must present a certificate or statement that, for medical reasons or reasons of conscience, including a religious belief, the student will not be immunized.
For exemptions based on reasons of conscience, only official forms issued by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Immunization Branch, can be honored by the district. The form cannot be copied, the original document must be presented to the school nurse, before admission to school. Parents/Guardians are encouraged to order the maximum amount of forms, as different entities may request an original.
This form may be obtained by writing the DSHS Immunization Branch (MC 1946), P.O. Box 149347, Austin, Texas 78714-9347; or online at Affidavit Request for Exemption from Immunization. The form must be notarized and submitted to the principal or school nurse within 90 days of notarization.
If the parent is seeking an exemption for more than one student in the family, a separate form must be provided for each student.
The immunizations required are:
● Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis;
● Rubeola (measles), mumps, and rubella;
● Polio;
● Hepatitis A;
● Hepatitis B;
● Varicella (chicken pox); and
● Meningococcal.
The school nurse/designated staff can provide information on immunization requirements.
Proof of immunization may be established by personal records from a licensed physician or public health clinic with a signature or rubber-stamp validation.
If a student should not be immunized for medical reasons, the student or parent must present a certificate signed by a U.S. registered and licensed physician stating that, in the doctor’s opinion, the 19 immunization required is medically contraindicated or poses a significant risk to the health and well-being of the student or a member of the student’s family or household.
This certificate must be renewed yearly unless the physician specifies a lifelong condition.
[See the DSHS website: Texas School & Child Care Facility Immunization Requirements and policy FFAB(LEGAL) for more information.]
Lice (All Grade Levels)
Head lice are very common among children. Although not an illness or a disease, it spreads easily through head-to-head contact during play, sports, and when children share things like brushes, combs, hats, and headphones.
If careful observation indicates that a student has head lice, the school nurse/designated staff will contact the student’s parent to determine whether the student needs to be picked up from school and to discuss a treatment plan using an FDA-approved medicated shampoo or cream rinse that may be purchased from any drug or grocery store.
After the student undergoes one treatment, the parent should contact the school nurse to discuss the treatment used.
The nurse can also offer additional recommendations, including subsequent treatments, how best to get rid of lice, and how to prevent their return.
More information on head lice can be obtained from the DSHS website Managing Head Lice in School Settings and at Home.
Medicine at School (All Grade Levels)
If a student must take medication during school hours, the student’s parent must provide the medication. All medication, whether prescription or nonprescription (must be authorized by a physician/parent) must be kept in the nurse’s/designated staff’s office and will only be administered by the nurse or another authorized district employee.
● Prescription medication should be provided by the parent, along with a written request in the original, properly labeled container. All medications must have a valid medical practitioner's signed and dated medical order accompanying the medication.
● Nonprescription medication in the original, properly labeled container, provided by the parent along with a written request. Note: Insect repellant is considered a nonprescription medication. All medications must have a valid medical practitioner's signed and dated medical order accompanying the medication.
● Herbal or dietary supplements provided by the parent only if required by the student’s individualized education program (IEP) or Section 504 plan for a student with disabilities. 20 Students whose schedules provide for regular time spent outdoors, including for recess and physical education classes, should apply sunscreen before coming to school.
Asthma and Severe Allergic Reactions
A student with asthma or severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) may possess and use prescribed asthma or anaphylaxis medication at school or school-related events only if he or she has written authorization from the parent/guardian and a physician or other licensed health- care provider.
The student must also demonstrate to the health-care provider and the school nurse/designated staff the ability to use the prescribed medication, including any device required to administer the medication. If the student has been prescribed asthma or anaphylaxis medication for use during the school day, the student and parents should discuss this with the school nurse/designated staff or principal.
Food Allergies (All Grade Levels)
Parents should notify the district when a student has been diagnosed with a food allergy, especially an allergy that could result in dangerous or life-threatening reactions either by inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact with the particular food. It is important to disclose the food to which the student is allergic as well as the nature of the allergic reaction. Please contact the school nurse or campus principal if your child has a known food allergy or as soon as possible after any diagnosis of a food allergy.
Seizures (All Grade Levels)
To address the care of a student with a seizure disorder while at school or participating in a school 23 activity, a parent may submit a seizure management and treatment plan to the district before the beginning of the school year, upon enrollment of the student, or as soon as practicable following diagnosis of a seizure disorder.
Bacterial Meningitis information
Texas Education Code section 51.9192 states that all students attending an institution of higher education are required to provide proof of a current bacterial meningitis vaccination.
Effective January 1, 2014, all entering students are required to show evidence of an initial bacterial meningitis vaccine or a booster dose during the five-year period preceding, and at least 10 days prior to, the first day of the first semester in which the student initially enrolls at a Texas higher education institution.
Under justifiable circumstances, an institution may grant extensions to individual students to delay the compliance date to no more than 10 days after the first day of the semester (or other term) in which the student initially enrolls (Texas Education Code 21.614).
An entering student includes a first-time student of a Texas public institution of higher education or private or independent institution and includes a transfer student or a student who previously attended an institution of higher education before January 1, 2014, and who is enrolling in the same or another institution of higher education following a break in enrollment of at least one fall or spring semester.
For more information on immunization requirements for students at institutions of higher education, visit the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) website.
Mental Health Information
Mental Health Support (All Grade Levels)
The parents/district will work in partnership with mental health professionals/community resources to implement programs to address the following mental health, behavioral health, and substance abuse concerns:
● Mental health promotion and early intervention;
● Building skills to manage emotions, establish and maintain positive relationships, and engage in responsible decision-making;
● Substance abuse prevention and intervention;
● Suicide prevention, intervention, and post intervention (interventions after a suicide in a community);
● Grief, trauma, and trauma-informed care;
● Positive behavior interventions and supports;
● Positive youth development; and
● Safe, supportive, and positive school climates. State-wide and national informational resources include the following:
● National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-https://www.nimh.nih.gov/
● National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)-https://namitexas.org/ , 512-693-2000; 21 1-800-633-3760.
● American Foundation for Suicide Prevention; https://afsp.org/ crisis line: 1-800-273-TALK (8255); crisis text line: Text “TALK” to 741741; information line: 1-888-333-AFSP (2377).
If a student has been hospitalized or placed in residential treatment for a mental health condition or substance abuse, please contact your child’s school counselor/administration for further information. Only authorized medical professionals are to recommend use of psychotropic drugs. A psychotropic drug is a substance used in the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of a disease or as a component of a medication that is intended to alter perception, emotion, mood, or behavior.
For related information:
Consent to Conduct a Psychological Evaluation or Provide a Mental Health Care Service; for recommending a mental health intervention and the mental health liaison’s contact information.
COVID Policy
Masks
- Masks are optional in KAPs.
- Face masks can be provided for any student, staff, or visitor who requests one.
- Masks continue to be an effective way of preventing the spread of COVID-19 for those who choose to wear them.
This document constitutes TEA’s guidance and takes effect immediately, replacing all prior guidance.
KAPS will operate in compliance with existing state laws and regulations, including all executive orders issued by the governor of Texas in response to the COVID-19 pandemic that are currently in effect.
The following are examples of existing state laws and regulations applicable to the operations of Texas public school systems (KAPS) during the COVID-19 pandemic:
- If an individual who has been in a school is test-confirmed to have COVID-19, the school must notify its local health department, in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations, including confidentiality requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
- Per GA-38, school systems cannot require students or staff to wear a mask. GA-38 addresses government-mandated face coverings in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- As provided in this Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Rule, school systems must exclude students from attending school in person who have or are suspected of having COVID-19, and must immediately notify parents if this is determined while on campus. As noted in the rule, exclusion shall continue until the conditions for re-entry are met:
- For children with symptoms, at least 5 days have passed since symptom onset, and fever free, and other symptoms have improved.
- Children who test positive for COVID-19 but do not have any symptoms must stay home until at least 5 days after the day they were tested.
- Parents must ensure they do not send a child to school on campus if the child has COVID-19 symptoms or is test-confirmed with COVID-19, until the conditions for re-entry are met. TEA recommends that public school systems consult with their local public health authorities and local legal counsel before making final decisions regarding implementation of the state requirements referenced by this guidance. This guidance is subject to change as new information becomes available.