• Vaccine Requirements for Students

    Massachusetts state law requires all public school students to receive specific vaccinations against diseases.

    If you have any questions regarding your child’s current vaccination status, please reach out to your school nurse.

     

    Immunizations Pre-K

    • Diphtheria/Pertussis/Tetanus (DTaP) – 4 doses
    • Polio vaccine – 3 doses 
    • Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR) – 1 dose
    • Hepatitis B – 3 doses
    • Varicella – 1 dose

     

    Immunizations K-12

    • Diphtheria/Pertussis/Tetanus (DPT/TD) – 5 doses    
      • A booster dose of DTaP is required at age 11–12 years.
    • Polio vaccine – 4 doses  
    • Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR) – 2 doses before entrance to Kindergarten
    • Hepatitis B – 3 doses
    • Varicella – 2 doses before entrance to Kindergarten
    • Meningococcal - 1 dose is required before entrance to 7th grade. The 2nd dose must be given on, or after, a student's 16th birthday. 
     
     

    Physical Exams

    Please submit any new physical exams or immunization information to the school nurse. All students new to Ashland Public Schools are required to have a current physical examination and up-to-date immunizations. Students who are non-compliant with up-to-date physical exams and/or immunizations will be excluded from school until appropriate documentation is provided. 
     
    Lead screening is required for entrance to Pre-K and Kindergarten. 

    Vision compliance documentation is required for entrance to Kindergarten (which may already be included in the student's annual physical form). 
     
     

    Mandatory Health Screenings

    Physical exams are required in grades PK, K, 4, 7 and 10.

    Vision screening occurs annually in grades PK, K-5, 7 and 10.

    Hearing screening occurs annually in grades PK, K-3, 7 and 10.

    Postural screening* occurs annually in grades 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.
     
    Body Mass Index (BMI) screening* occurs in grades 1, 4, 7 and 10.

    SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment)* occurs annually in grades 7 and 9.

    All students in these grades are expected to participate in all mandated health screenings.
     
     
    * Parents or guardians may request in writing that their child not participate in postural, BMI or SBIRT screenings.