Student Handbook

The activity bus typically runs at 4:00 pm after school Monday-Thursday.  Students are required to obtain a Daily Activity Bus Pass from their teacher, coach or advisor to ride the activity bus.  Activity buses do not follow the regular bus routes but will bring the students within the general area of their home.

RAHS is a Closed Campus school. Students are not allowed to leave campus during school hours.

All students are asked to leave the building once the school day ends. Students who are staying after school for school work or school-related activities must be supervised. For safety reasons, any unsupervised students in the building after the 3:00 pm bell will be asked to leave the building. School consequences may be assigned to students who continue to violate this school policy.  

Bus transportation is a service provided by this school district for the convenience and comfort of those students not living within walking distance of the school. Contact District Transportation for rider eligibility (651-635-1638).  Bus transportation should be considered a privilege. Regulations for student behavior on school buses are sent to residents of our school district by the Board of Education. Deliberate violation of bus safety rules may result in the loss of bus privileges.      

Lunch accounts are prepaid accounts.  No cash will be accepted during lunch. Lunch money can be handed in at the breakfast line by 8:05 AM or dropped off in the white Lunch Money Box inside the Student Support Services office before 9:30 AM to be entered into the account before lunch. Put first and last name of student and grade in the memo area of the check.  One check may be used for all family members but all students' names and grades must be on the check.

A menu is posted at the entrance to the cafeteria. Students are also offered a variety of specialty items (salad bar, hamburger/sandwich line, pizza, etc.).

Student lunches should be eaten in the cafeteria and the Commons. Students are expected to leave the tables, chairs, and floors in a clean condition and be respectful of self and others. Students are not allowed to leave and get food or order food from outside vendors to be delivered to the school during school hours.

Organizations and/or any member of the public can request information about students attending Roseville Area Schools. “Directory information,” as it is known, is defined by Roseville Area Schools as a student’s name, date of birth, major field of study, participation in officially organized teams, weight and height as a member of athletic teams, dates of enrollment, dates of graduation or withdrawal, grade levels completed, degrees and awards, pictures of students for school-approved publications/newspapers, yearbooks, district-managed websites and district-managed social media, or for cable casts, bulletins, programs, or similar school-produced information pieces.

Directory Information Opt Outs

To make directory information private, parents, legal guardians, or students who are 18 or older should print out and complete a Student Directory Opt-Out Form and do one of the following by October 1 of each school year:

• MAIL: Mail the completed form to Roseville Area Schools, Attn: Central Enrollment, 1251 County Rd. B2 West, Roseville, MN 55113
• DROP OFF: Give it to the main office at the student’s school by October 1, 2023
• SCAN AND EMAIL: Scan and email it to carrie.ardito@isd623.org

Please complete one form for each student. The request will remain in effect for the current school year or unless modified or rescinded via the Student Directory Rescind Request Form available at your student’s school. If you have any questions, please email carrie.ardito@isd623.org.

Military Information

Military recruiters within the following five branches of service may request student information once each semester.

• Air Force
• Army
• Coast Guard
• Marine Corps
• Navy

A request must be submitted on official letterhead to Jamie Porter at jamie.porter@isd623.org.

Military Information Opt Outs

Under federal law, military recruiters are allowed to access information of students 17 and older. This information includes: name, address, phone number, age/date of birth, place of birth, class level, major field of study, degrees received, and most recent educational institution attended. This law supersedes any elements covered by the district's definition of directory information. If you wish to opt your student out of the release of information to military recruiters, please complete the "Directory Information Military Opt Out Request Form" and submit it to the main office at your child's school.

Inappropriate dress includes, but is not limited to, any clothing with inflammatory images, slogans and/or derogatory or offensive language promoting illegal activities or products (tobacco, drugs, or alcohol) or clothing that disrupts the learning environment. Students wearing inappropriate dress may be asked to dress more appropriately or change their clothing.

Minnesota Law 120.06 states that school districts may impose the same rules and regulations on students 18-21 years of age as those imposed on students under 18. All Roseville Area High School students are expected to adhere to the same set of policies and guidelines.

Roseville Area High School students may possess personal devices (cell phones, iPads, headphones, etc.) at school and at extracurricular events. Students bring personal devices at their own risk.

During class time all personal devices must be stowed in a bin and silenced. 

Student use of personal devices is limited to:

• Before and after the regularly scheduled school day
• During the student’s scheduled lunch period
• During passing time (bell to bell)

Response to Behaviors:

Staff members will contact Administration for a technology pick up if a student does not follow electronic policy expectations. Administration will contact home and retain the students’ personal device for the remainder of the day. If additional violations take place the team will be in touch with the family. 

Roseville Area Schools provides equal educational opportunity for all learners. The school district does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of gender, home or first language, ability, race, age, socioeconomic status, religion, physical appearance, sexual orientation, or national origin.  In compliance with the law, procedures have been established for resolving complaints alleging discrimination in these areas. Any person who feels they have been discriminated against is encouraged to follow reporting procedures. Copies of the policy and the regulation are available in the Principal’s Office and at the Roseville Area Schools District Center.

There will be no effort of censorship on the part of RAHS staff.  Each RAHS staff member will communicate with respect and the students will be expected to do the same. Students will be encouraged to use speech and written expression as a respectful means of communication. Students who use profanity, disrespectful slang, or graffiti will be asked to correct the behavior.

All students will have their picture taken by Lifetouch for the purpose of having a picture in Synergy as well as a student ID. Students should be able to show ID if asked by a staff member during the school hours. Student ID’s are issued to each student at RAHS.  Lost and stolen cards are replaced for a $5 fee and can be paid for with cash or check

Your student will be issued a school iPad for academic use.

Each year, families are asked to purchase $30 iPad insurance through our Affinety system. Students who qualify for educational benefits are automatically enrolled and covered by iPad Insurance. No action is needed. Review details of the insurance coverage at www.isd623.org/digitallearnWhen students pick up their school-issued iPad, they are agreeing to follow the district’s expectations for student iPad use as found in the 1:1 iPad Program Family & Student Guide. You can review it at the iPad Program website: www.isd623.org/digitallearn

This site will also contain all information related to the 1:1 program including goals, policies, behavior expectations, and more. If you have additional questions, there is a contact form on the 1:1 website that you can complete and submit, and someone from the technology team will respond to your question as soon as possible.

Roseville Area Schools is committed to providing learning and work environments that are healthy and safe for all students and staff. To this end, all district schools and instructional support facilities have been designated as ‘latex-reduced environments.’ The following guidelines are in place at all district schools and instructional support facilities:

• Latex balloons are restricted from Roseville Area Schools for the protection of students and staff who have latex allergies. They contain large amounts of latex residue and, therefore, carry the most danger for allergic reactions. 
• Latex products of all kinds have been removed from health offices.
• The district will make every effort to order latex-free products (natural rubber products). 

In areas such as Science classrooms, latex equipment may still be in use because latex free alternatives are unavailable. If a student has a known latex allergy, latex will not be used in that classroom.

We continue to develop awareness of other latex products that are being used in our schools.  We either replace them with latex free alternatives, or if replacements are not available, we focus on reducing the use of these products.

School lockers are the property of District 623 and are loaned to students for their use. School officials have the legal right to access lockers and search them at any time, for any reason, and without notice.  Students are to use only the locker assigned to them. Students are not to share their combination or locker with another student and are responsible for their own possessions. The school will not assume responsibility for lost or stolen articles.  School insurance does not cover personal loss or theft. Valuables and money should NOT be brought to school nor kept in lockers.

For safety and security, locks are required on each hall and physical education locker. Locks may be purchased during Back to School Open House for $5. It is expected these locks be used for the entire high school experience and are the possession of the student. Students enrolled in physical education will need two locks – one for the hall locker and a red lock for the P.E. locker. Locks will be on sale from your physical education teacher as well as the Student Support Services office after orientation. If the location of your locker is a problem, please see the Student Support Office.

Only school issued padlocks may be placed on high school lockers. We will not make refunds at the end of the school year.

Athletic lockers and lock combinations are assigned by the equipment manager. The assignments are for the sport season only.

Lost and Found is located outside the Student Support Services office. Textbooks which are found will be returned to the teacher who assigned the book to a student or to the media center. Check with your teacher if you have lost a textbook

The media center is open Monday -Thursday from 7:00 am - 4:00 pm and Friday from 7:00-3:00 pm.  Students have access to technology during this time. Staff are also available to students to provide academic tutoring.

Books may be checked out for four weeks. Reference materials, calculators, and laptops (for word processing) may be checked out OVERNIGHT and must be returned to the media center before first hour the following school day.

All permits are issued through the Activities Office.  All fines must be paid from the previous year before a new parking permit is issued. Students will purchase the parking permit online via FeePay. Students will not be able to purchase a parking permit if they have fines or fees.

Parking Regulations

Students who receive parking permits must observe the following rules. Violation of any of these rules and any school rule may result in the forfeiture of the parking permit. There are no refunds.

• Student parking is allowed in only designated spaces painted blue to indicate student parking. Students who park in the staff spaces or other non-designated areas may have their cars booted or towed at their expense.
• All students driving to school must have their valid parking permit affixed to the vehicle. Vehicles without a permit will be booted or towed at their expense.
• The school does not carry liability insurance to cover damage or theft of student, staff, or visitor’s vehicles and/or contents.
• Any unreasonable speed or reckless driving on or near school premises may be reported to the police liaison officer and will likely result in the suspension of parking privileges.
• Students are not to be in the parking lot or cars during school hours without permission from an administrator.
• The parking permit cannot be transferred or sold to anyone else. The student for which the permit is issued is liable for violations under that permit number. 
• Student parking is a privilege not a right. Students may lose their parking permit as a result    of not following school rules. There are no refunds.

Parents/Legal Guardians: Please encourage your student/s to use our district transportation and be familiar with parking regulations and procedures.

According to state statute, all public school students shall recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States of America one or more times each week. Anyone who does not wish to participate may elect not to do so and students must respect another person’s right to make that choice.

Protective drills are conducted several times throughout the school year. Each classroom will have a sign posted telling the students where they should report for tornado and lockdown emergencies, and how they exit the building for evacuation drills (fire, gas leak, broken water main, electrical outages, etc.). All drills are serious matters and should be treated as such.

• Fire Drill: Students exit the building as a class by following their teacher through the assigned exit to an area approximately 100 feet away from the building. Coats and books should be left behind. Students will return to the classroom when the all-clear bell rings. Students should not leave the school grounds during a fire drill.
• Evacuation Drill: During an evacuation, students will remain as a class and follow their classroom teacher to a designated location outside of the building. 
• Tornado Drill: Tornado drills and warnings will be announced over the intercom. When drills are announced, teachers will take their classes to the assigned shelter areas. Students are to remain together as a class. The students are to sit next to the wall. In case of an actual tornado, students should sit on the floor and cover their heads for protection from flying glass and objects.
• Lockdown Drill: A designated tone will sound and an audio announcement will be made by an administrator to make students and staff aware of this kind of situation.  A video announcement will help remind students to stay in their classroom or go to the nearest secure location.  Students will move away from windows and doors and sit on the floor.  No one will be allowed to leave the building unless directed by law enforcement. An “all clear” from administration or police will be given to leave the building or resume class time.
• Drill Procedures for Evacuation of Handicapped Students: Evacuation plans are on file with each case manager. The handicapped student will report to a predetermined location.

• Students: RAHS has a no-visitor policy. Students are not allowed to bring guests into school during school hours.  Students from other schools are not allowed to shadow RAHS students during the school day.
• Adults: Parents or legal guardians who wish to see a teacher, counselor, or administrator are to call ahead to schedule a meeting time and location. All adults are to report to the security desk to sign in, receive their name tag and be escorted to their destination. This includes students who attended RAHS during a previous school year. Parents and/or legal guardians are not allowed to shadow their students during the school day.

As a district based data decision making, there are various surveys students are asked to complete throughout the year which are not advertised in advance to families. These may include: staff ratings, building/climate ratings, wellness surveys, etc.  Surveys may occur as part of advisory or part of a class. Students are expected to participate in surveys unless a parent/ guardian has excused participation.  To opt out of all student surveys, please leave a message in the main office at 651-635-1660. In this message, include your child’s name, grade and preference and they be excused from survey participation.

Textbooks come in both soft and hard cover and may cost from $3 to over $100.  Students are expected to take good care of them. A fee is not charged for their use but fines are assessed for lost and/or damaged books.

A safe, helpful way to keep your school safe is to call the Tip Line at 651-604-1414.

The school’s website offers a wealth of information about the school including school news, classes/departments, student support services, athletic events, career center, academic events, and links to district information such as curriculum maps or Board meeting minutes. Make sure you regularly visit www.isd623.org/rahs.

Receive news, announcements and updates from Roseville Area High School straight to your email inbox. To subscribe or unsubscribe your email address, go to www.isd623.org/rahs and click on “Subscribe to School News.”

Announcements regarding school closing due to inclement weather and/or hazardous conditions will be announced on WCCO radio (830 AM) and on the district website. The district will make a decision to close the schools by 6:30 a.m. and pass this information on to WCCO at that time. Please do not call the school for school closing information.

To view the Roseville Area High School calendar, CLICK HERE

RAHS uses a 4.0 non-weighted grading system. The grade point average (GPA) for each student is calculated each trimester by dividing the honor points earned by the number of credits. Students achieving a GPA of 3.0 or better are named to the honor roll for that trimester.  A cumulative GPA for each student is also calculated each trimester by dividing the total honor points earned since ninth grade, by the total number of credits taken since 9th grade. This cumulative GPA is used in determining the class rank and the Senior Honor Roll list.

The academic grades used on report cards, progress reports, and student records appear in letter form. Teachers may adopt academic regulations for their classroom as stated on their course syllabus. The numerical equivalency used to determine a student’s GPA is as follows:

“No Mark” is used for students with extenuating circumstances that may prevent them from completing the work in a class before grades are put into the computer.

Students have the option of Pass/Fail grading. The forms are available online or from the Student Support Services Office.  The deadline for being graded Pass/Fail must be made by mid- trimester.

Synergy StudentVue or ParentVue is available to check a student’s academic progress, attendance and health history. Parents/guardians select Parents at www.isd623.org/rahs then select Synergy Parent Portal.

Report cards can be viewed online through StudentVue/ParentVue in Synergy.

Parents/Guardians are encouraged to contact the school to resolve academic or behavioral concerns. Teachers can be reached via email or voicemail. Teachers are not immediately available but will return your communication within 24-48 hours when school is in session.

While it is the student’s responsibility to see that he/she has all of the requirements necessary for graduation, the counselors will assist the students in monitoring requirements needed for graduation.  Any student or parent/guardian who has a question regarding graduation status should contact their assigned counselor.

 A student must be enrolled full time or participating in the diploma completion plan option in the third trimester to participate in the graduation ceremony.

The building class schedule is built using student/family course requests from registration. When a student registers for a class, they have the responsibility of remaining in the class and completing it. Student schedule changes only occur in rare instances as we base our staffing on your registration. Within the first 2 days of the trimester make an appointment with your counselor for a schedule change, if your request falls into the following acceptable reasons:

• Need a class to graduate
• Placed in the wrong level of course (i.e. Spanish III instead of Spanish II)
• Medical/physical restriction
• Missing the prerequisite
• Taken the class already
• Missing a class
• Have two classes scheduled the same period
• PSEO Enrollment
• Desire to rigor up(allowed only if there is space)

The following scheduling requests cannot be accommodated:

• Specific teacher requests
• Changes to support sports, activities or work
• Changed minds
• Desire to be with friends, have a certain lunch or certain period

Permanent records include the student’s scholastic achievements (grades and credits), standardized testing results, attendance, and health and immunization records.

A student and/or parents/legal guardians may see the student’s record by making an appointment to do so with his/her counselor. The student and/or parents/legal guardians may place any statements or items in the record if it pertains to the student’s school work. Students may request that items be removed from the file; however, the counselor may or may not grant the request. If the request is denied, an appeal may be made to the principal.

Transcripts needed for college applications or the NCAA are ordered through their Xello account. Unofficial transcripts can be obtained through StudentVUE under Course History. Official transcripts can be obtained from Student Support Services.

Roseville Area Schools offers a summer school program of five weeks duration. Summer school is for the make-up of required coursework. Students who do not earn credit for a course during the school year have the option of summer school to earn credit in Math, English, Science and Social Studies.  Two credits are the maximum a student can make up each summer.

A student must have their parent/legal guardian’s permission to withdraw. To withdraw, a student is to obtain a Withdrawal Form from the Student Support Services Office and have it signed by their teachers, counselor, nurse, media specialist, activities director, and associate principal. All books and materials checked out are to be returned and the fines assessed due to damaged or lost materials paid. Any course fees need to be paid in full.

The Honor Roll is based on academic performance. To qualify for the “B” Honor Roll, a student must have achieved a GPA of 3.0 or better for the trimester just completed. Students with a GPA of 3.67 or better are recognized as “A” Honor Roll students.

Academic letters are awarded at the end of the third, sixth, and ninth trimesters to students who are enrolled at RAHS full-time with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.67 or honors rank equivalent. Students receive one academic letter and certificates thereafter.

Student of the Trimester will be selected each trimester by each department.  The criteria for selection may include academic achievement, improvement, leadership, classroom contributions, classroom cooperation and behavior.  Students can be selected only once during their high school years.

Membership in the National Honor Society is the highest formal academic honor conferred at Roseville Area High School. Selection to NHS is an honor accorded by the faculty, and is based on the student’s academic record, service record, leadership ability, and character.

Students who qualify academically are notified of their eligibility.  A student must have a cumulative GPA of 3.7 based on our 4.0 point grading system, at the end of their seventh trimester.  Students must provide evidence of performing a school or non-school service activity for which they have received no school credit or monetary payment.  Continued service is important to membership in NHS. Each chapter must do a service project and members must be actively involved in service to school and community.

The top 10% of graduating senior students from the class rank are identified from the cumulative grade point average (GPA) /class rank computer list after the second trimester of their senior year. These students wear a silver honor cord at graduation.  The top one percent of the senior class from both class ranks are honored with a medallion.

For home school students to be eligible for RAHS recognition of class rank, graduation honors, National Honor Society and academic letters, students need to have completed 75% of their credits at RAHS.  Foreign exchange students are not eligible for these recognitions.

Juniors and seniors have the option to complete some of their high school requirements at a PSEO participating college or university. Students must meet eligibility requirements established by the post-secondary institution. Grades and credits earned are included on the high school transcript and are used in determining class rank. Students must follow the application process and timeline set by the post-secondary institution.

The Northeast Metro Career and Technical Center is associated with Century Community and Technical College. Over thirty career and technical programs are open to high school juniors and seniors. To enroll in NE Metro, a student must fill out an application and have counselor and/or case manager approval. Students at NE Metro will earn high school credits and, in some programs, may earn college credits.

Advanced Placement (AP) allows high school students to take college-level courses and exams to earn college credit while still in high school. Students learn the subject in greater depth, develop analytical reasoning skills, form disciplined study habits, gain confidence by meeting the challenge of college-level courses and gain experience of college-level work within the support of the high school environment. Students who are college bound and want a challenging academic program should register for AP classes. AP exams are given in May on a prescribed national schedule.  Exam fees are set by the College Board. Students must register for the exam(s) on FeePay.

Xello is a web-based post-secondary planning program that students will be taught to use throughout high school.  It is a program that helps students explore college and career decisions.  Seniors will use Xello to do many of their college applications, scholarship applications and more.  It is imperative that students learn Xello in order to access tools they need for their senior year.  Students access Xello by logging in through their Clever accounts.  If you have questions about the program, please feel free to call your student’s counselor. 

Senior students receive a letter in September which provides the directions they need for their college application process through Naviance and should apply to colleges as soon as possible before their deadline.  Letters of recommendation are requested through Naviance after talking to the teacher. Give counselors/teachers 2-4 weeks notice to write the letters.  Order all transcripts through Parchment.

The Career Center offers a multitude of resources for college and career planning. It is staffed by a Career Specialist and is open and available to students and parents Monday through Thursday- before, during and after school.

The Career Center sponsors many programs and activities that encourage students to utilize available resources to enhance post-secondary decision making. College Admissions representatives schedule visits through the Career Center to meet with students at RAHS.  (Visits to post-secondary institutions can be arranged by contacting the Admissions Office of that institution).  Practice ACT tests, Accuplacer and ASVAB tests are offered periodically throughout the school year through the Career Center.  Scholarships are coordinated through the Career Center.

• PSAT (Grade 11): Offered to all interested juniors in the fall
• ACT (Grade 11) (American College Testing)

The Student Support Services department is committed to supporting students, parents/guardians and staff in developing attitudes and skills that will enhance student’s self-esteem, contribute to lifelong learning, and promote successful relationships.

COUNSELORS: 651-635-1662
Counselors can be helpful to you in many situations such as academic support, personal problems, emotional concerns, college applications, vocational and business schools, and future career planning.

SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST: 651-604-1468
The school psychologist is a resource for students and parents/guardians regarding psychological testing and special education placement.

SOCIAL WORKER: 651-604-1406
The school social worker provides services to students and parents/guardians in the areas of counseling, mental health, homelessness, and connecting to community agencies.  They primarily work with students receiving special education services.

REGISTRAR: 651-635-1681
The registrar is responsible for enrolling new students, student files, student withdrawals, mark reporting, and transcripts.

SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER: 651-604-1461
The school resource officer is our community resource through the Roseville Police Department.

CULTURAL LIAISON

• African-American: 651-239-2826
• American Indian: 651-332-6513
• Hmong: 651-604-3548
• Latino: 651-604-1489
• Karen: 651-604-1422
• Nepali: 651-322-0468
• Somali: 651-604-1402

Each school in Roseville Area Schools has a health office staffed by a health assistant under the supervision of the licensed school nurse. The school health office functions to support students who become ill or injured during the school day, administer medications to students who require it, and provide assistance to students who need support with the management of chronic health conditions at school.

You are encouraged to contact the licensed school nurse if your student has a chronic health condition requiring management during the school day, or if you have a question regarding your student’s health.

If your student becomes ill or seriously injured at school and it is necessary for them to go home, you or your designated emergency contact person will be contacted by the Health Office to pick up your student. Students who are 18 or older may sign themselves out at the discretion of school staff.

Please notify the school office immediately each time your phone numbers or emergency contact names/numbers change, or update them in ParentVue (CLICK HERE). We depend on you for this information and we need to be able to reach you quickly in case your student is ill or injured. If we cannot reach you or your emergency contacts, we may call 911 or contact the police. Students are not allowed to call parents from a classroom to request permission to go home. 

Not every health office visit will be reported home. You are encouraged to call your school health office with any questions.

The following will help you decide whether your child is too sick and should stay home from school.

• If your child has a fever of 100 degrees or more, they should stay home for 24 hours after the temperature returns to normal and remains normal without fever-reducing medication.
• If your child has vomited or has diarrhea, they should stay home until 24 hours after the last episode.
• If your child had any rash that may be disease-related or the cause is unknown, check with your healthcare provider before sending them back to school.

If your child is ill, please call the school to report the absence each day of the illness. If you have questions regarding your child's illness, please call your school nurse or healthcare provider.

For students with health conditions that require medication during the school day, parents/guardian-provided medication is administered by the licensed school nurse, or by the health assistant or other staff under the direction and supervision of the licensed school nurse. There is no school supply of medication.

For the protection of students, families, and school personnel:

• A new medication permission form is required each and every school year.
• All medications needed during the school day are stored in the health office. Medications required in other programs or outside the normal school day hours are stored in a secure location in that program’s area.
• If there are concerns about any student medication, the licensed school nurse may contact the health care provider and/or request a healthcare provider’s order for an over-the-counter medication.
• Medications prescribed for more than two (2) weeks and which must be taken at school must have the “Dispensation of Medication” form signed by the prescribing provider and the parent/guardian. For over the counter medications, a parent’s signature only is required.
• Medication prescribed for less than two (2) weeks requires written permission from the parent/guardian only.
• All medications must be in original containers labeled with all of the following: student’s full name, medication name, dose, and times of day to take medication.
• Students are not allowed to self-administer medication without approval from the licensed school nurse, parent/guardian approval, and health care provider signature (for prescription medication).
• At the end of the school year medications will be sent home with students unless otherwise indicated. Return of controlled medications (e.g. ADHD medications) will be coordinated with families. 

Parents/guardians are encouraged to contact the licensed school nurse at the child’s school to discuss any concerns or special needs, or to request assistance in obtaining required authorization from their healthcare provider.

Prescription and over-the-counter medications will be stored in a locked cabinet in the Health Office. Emergency medications (e.g., asthma inhalers, seizure medications, epinephrine pens) will be stored in an unlocked cabinet for easy access in the event of an emergency.

Roseville Area Schools are allergy aware and strive to provide a safe school environment for students with life threatening allergies. Please provide an anaphylaxis action plan each school year, or every 12 months. To plan accommodations specific to your student, please contact the Licensed School Nurse.

Minnesota law requires students to be immunized against certain diseases or have a signed, legal medical or conscientious exemption kept in the student health record. These requirements apply to all students whether they attend public schools, private schools, or home schools. Appropriate documentation must be provided to the school health office in order for the student to enroll or remain enrolled. If a parent or guardian objects to immunizations for either medical or personal reasons, a notarized statement is needed on the Student Immunization form. The notarized statement specifies the immunization(s) the child will not be receiving. Download the form here, or contact the health office for information about obtaining a medical or conscientious exemption.

Licensed school nurses conduct vision and hearing screening at school in alignment with the recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). Teachers may identify a student who appears to struggle to see and then can request that the student is screened. Parent/guardians may also contact their licensed school nurse and request screening for their child.

Schoolwide screening provided in select grades, as recommended by MDH, are a way to identify students who may need glasses. Students may also be screened as part of a school special education evaluation. Often individuals are not aware that they are struggling to see details at a distance, so screening is helpful to identify those who should follow up with their healthcare provider.

Health screenings that licensed school nurses can provide at school include: 

• Distance vision acuity
• Close vision acuity
• Spot Vision Screener that can identify several different vision conditions
• Eye muscle balance for lazy eye (amblyopia) (for preschool to grade 1)
• Color vision deficiency 
• Hearing

When a student’s ability to attend school is interrupted by major illness or injury, they may become eligible for homebound instruction when the length of absence is anticipated to be fifteen or more school days. The application for homebound instruction is made through the school nurse. Allotted time is one hour per day for each day missed. When students have an extended illness that does not qualify for homebound instruction, they may request homework from teachers through the nurse or student support services.