Immunizations and Mandatory Health Screenings
Immunization Requirements for Students
Massachusetts state law requires all public school students to be vaccinated against certain diseases. In order to attend school, students must provide documentation showing they have received all required immunizations.
View Massachusetts School Immunization Requirements
The statute does include exemptions for medical and religious reasons. Religious exemptions must be updated annually and submitted to your school’s health office. If you have questions regarding your child’s immunization status, please contact your school nurse.
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.
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.