File: JLCC - Communicable/Infectious Diseases

NOTE: While Colorado school districts are not required by law to adopt a policy on this subject, some content in this sample reflects legal requirements school districts must follow. This sample contains the content/language that CASB believes best meets the intent of the law. However, the district should consult with its own legal counsel to determine appropriate language that meets local circumstances and needs.

The Board of Education recognizes that communicable diseases which may afflict students range from common childhood diseases, acute and short-term in nature, to chronic, life-threatening diseases such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. This school district will rely on the advice of the medical community in assessing the risk of transmission of various communicable diseases to determine how best to protect the health of both students and staff. The risk of transmitting HIV/AIDS is extremely low in school settings when current guidelines and preventative measures are followed.

Management of common communicable diseases will be in accordance with Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment or local public health department guidelines. A student who exhibits symptoms of a readily-transmissible communicable disease may be temporarily excluded from school attendance.

Students who complain of illness at school may be referred to the school nurse and may be sent home as soon as the parent/guardian or person designated on the student´s emergency medical authorization form has been notified.

The district reserves the right to require a physician's statement authorizing the student's return to school.

In all proceedings related to this policy, the district will respect the student's right to privacy.

When information is received by a staff member or volunteer that a student is afflicted with a serious, readily-transmissible disease, the staff member or volunteer will promptly notify the school nurse or principal to determine appropriate measures to protect student and staff health and safety. The principal, after consultation with the student and parent/guardian, will determine which additional staff members, if any, have need to know of the affected student´s condition and whether the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment or the local public health department must be notified. Only those staff members with direct responsibility for the care of the student will be informed of the specific nature of the condition if it is determined there is a need for such individuals to know this information.

The superintendent will initiate procedures to ensure that all medical information will be held in strict confidence. Any school staff member who violates confidentiality will be subject to appropriate disciplinary measures.

(Adoption date)

LEGAL REFS.: C.R.S. 22-33-104 (2)(a) (compulsory attendance law not applicable to a student who is temporarily ill and such absence is approved)

C.R.S. 22-33-106 (2) (grounds for suspension, expulsion and denial of admission)

CROSS REFS.: EBBA, Prevention of Disease/Infection Transmission (Handling Body Fluids)

IC/ICA, School Year, School Calendar, Instructional Time

JLCA, Physical Examinations of Students

JLCE, First Aid and Emergency Medical Care

JRA/JRC, Student Records/Release of Information on Students

NOTE: See "Guidelines for Infectious Diseases in Child Care and School Settings: Guidelines for Child Care Providers, School Nurses and Other Personnel" published by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). Visit CDPHE´s Division of Disease Control and Environmental Epidemiology´s website, www.cdphe.state.co.us, or call 303-692-2000 to access these guidelines and other information applicable to schools.

[Revised July 2020]