Standards of Practice:
Vermont School Health Services Manual

The Standards of Practice: School Health Services Manual is designed to provide guidance to school administrators and school nurses in the development, implementation and evaluation of school health services.

In June 2009, the Vermont Departments of Health and Education signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to link and optimize the efficiency of the efforts of our two departments in providing school health services. This manual is a product of our cooperative effort.

The Standards were developed using best practice recommendations from the Vermont Chapters of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and American Academy of Family Practitioners, the Vermont State School Nurse Association, Vermont Medical Society, Vermont State Board of Nursing, and the Vermont Child Health Improvement Program.

Through a process coordinated between the Departments of Health and Education, the manual will be continuously reviewed and updated by the School Health Standards of Practice Committee, a subcommittee of the Joint School Health Committee.

Please contact us with any questions.

Standards of Practice: School Health Services Manual

School Health Standards of Practice Manual coverThe Manual is divided into sections. You can download or print these PDF PDF document documents.

Each section includes:

Manual by Sections

  1. Cover & Introduction
  2. Adult Health Services
  3. Allergies
  4. Bloodborne Pathogens
  5. Child Abuse and Neglect
  6. Communicable Disease
  7. Confidentiality
  8. Coordinated School Health
  9. Delegation
  10. Documentation
  11. Drug, Alcohol & Tobacco Use
  12. Emergency/Disaster Preparedness
  13. Environmental Health
  14. Evaluation of Health Services
  15. First Aid
  16. Health Appraisal of Students
  17. Health Education
  18. Immunizations
  19. Liability
  20. Licensing
  21. Medical/Dental Home
  22. Medications
  23. Mental Health
  24. Nutrition
  25. School Health Services Practice
  26. Screening
  27. Students with Special Health Needs

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School Health Standards of Practice Committee (SHSPC)

SHSPC  consists of 5 school nurses, the Vermont Department of Health’s School Nurse Consultant, the Vermont State School Nurse Association President, as well as a Vermont Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics Pediatrician and Health Educator.

Joint School Health Committee (JSHC)

JSHC consists of professional staff from the DOE and VDH, as well as representatives from such groups as, an institution of higher education, the Vermont State Board of Nursing, the Vermont Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Vermont Chapter of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Vermont State School Nurses' Association, the Vermont Medical Society, the Vermont Principals' Association, the Vermont Superintendents Association, the Vermont School Boards Association, and the University of Vermont's Vermont Child Health Improvement Program.

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Contact us

If you have questions, comments, or suggestions about the Vermont School Health Website or its content, please e-mail: SchoolHealth@state.vt.us

For issues related to statewide programs or policies administered at the local level, please contact the Health Department District Office near you.

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