Students with a communicable disease will be allowed to attend school as long as they are physically able to perform the tasks assigned to them and as long as their attendance does not create a substantial risk of transmission of the illness or other harm to the students or the employees. The term “communicable disease” shall mean an infectious or contagious disease spread from person to person, or animal to person, or as defined by the State Department of Health.
A student will be excluded from school when the student’s condition has been determined to be injurious to the health of others or when the student is too ill to attend school. The health risk to an immuno-depressed student attending school shall be determined by the student’s personal physician. The health risk to others in the school environment from the presence of a student with communicable disease shall be determined on a case-by case basis by public health officials.
Since there may be greater risks of transmission of a communicable disease for some persons with certain conditions, than for other persons infected with the same disease, these special conditions: the risk of transmission of the disease; the effect upon the educational program, the effect upon the student, and other factors deemed relevant by public health officials or the administration shall be considered in assessing the student’s continued attendance at school. The administration may require medical evidence that students with a communicable disease are able to attend school.
It shall be the responsibility of the administration or school nurse, when the administration or school nurse has knowledge that communicable disease is present, to notify the State Department of Health. Rumor and hearsay shall be insufficient evidence for the administration to act.
Health data of a student is confidential and it shall not be disseminated.
It shall be the responsibility of the administration, in conjunction with the school nurse, to develop administrative regulations stating the procedures for dealing with students with a communicable disease. Appropriate hygienic practices shall be included in the administrative regulations.
Legal Reference: Board of Education of Nassau County v Arline, 55 U.L.W. 4245 (U.S. March 3, 1987)
Iowa Code Chapter 139 (1991).
29 U.S.C. §701 et seq.
45 C.F.R. 84.3
641 Iowa Admin. Code 1.2-1.5, 7.
281 Iowa Admin. Code 43.15-43.17
Cross Reference: 403.1 General Personnel Physical Examinations
403.3 General Personnel Communicable Diseases
Approved: 4-13-92, 1-10-00, 11-11-02, 2-12-07, 2-8-10, 2-8-16, 2-13-19
Reviewed: 2-14-96, 12-13-99, 10-14-02, 2-12-07, 2-8-10, 2-8-16, 2-13-19
Revised: 3-11-96
