West Virginia Department of Education policy # 2423, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, has added another important component of the school health requirements to ensure students are healthy and ready to learn.
Dental examinations and comprehensive physicals are now required for students first entering school, either at the PK or K level and then subsequent grades 2, 7 and 12.
The policy will be phased in over a 5 year period, Pre-K and Kindergarten beginning School Year (SY) 2015-16, grade 2 (SY 2016-17), grade 7 (SY 2017-18) and grade 12 (SY 2018-19).
Dental examinations and comprehensive physicals are now required for students first entering school, either at the PK or K level and then subsequent grades 2, 7 and 12.
The policy will be phased in over a 5 year period, Pre-K and Kindergarten beginning School Year (SY) 2015-16, grade 2 (SY 2016-17), grade 7 (SY 2017-18) and grade 12 (SY 2018-19).
The ability to make oral health another important component of the school health requirements to ensure students are healthy and ready to learn is a joyous day for the children and families of West Virginia. The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, Oral Health Program Advisory Board has worked closely with the West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) and school nurses to ensure oral health becomes incorporated into the daily routines and care of students and their families.
Instructional time is lost when students miss school because of toothaches. An estimated 51 million school hours per year are lost nationally due to dental related illness. Overall, children with good oral health spend more time in school learning. This is the reason oral health prevention is important to schools, students and their families.
The WVBE Policy 2423 was formerly named Communicable Disease Control and has been around since 2007. School health requirements have included a comprehensive physical examination and immunizations for students prior to the start of the school year.
Effective July 1, 2014, WVBE Policy 2423 has been renamed Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and has been expanded to require a dental examination as part of the current comprehensive physical for new enterers in Pre-K and Kindergarten and subsequent grades 2, 7 and 12. The policy will be phased in over the next 5 years, with Pre-K and Kindergarten beginning School Year (SY) 2015-16, grade 2 (SY 2016-17), grade 7 (SY 2017-18) and grade 12 (SY 2018-19).
As we begin to phase-in the dental examination components of this policy and supporting programs, our children and their future children will slowly reap the benefits of preventive oral health care. Over the next five years, together as a TEAM, we will assist students and their families in linking to dental homes and engaging in oral health preventative care.
I thank schools, parents, communities and dental providers for all the great work that has already been completed and the future work we have in front of us to provide West Virginia children with a healthy future and beautiful smile.
Dr. Jason Roush
West Virginia State Dental Director
March 2015
Instructional time is lost when students miss school because of toothaches. An estimated 51 million school hours per year are lost nationally due to dental related illness. Overall, children with good oral health spend more time in school learning. This is the reason oral health prevention is important to schools, students and their families.
The WVBE Policy 2423 was formerly named Communicable Disease Control and has been around since 2007. School health requirements have included a comprehensive physical examination and immunizations for students prior to the start of the school year.
Effective July 1, 2014, WVBE Policy 2423 has been renamed Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and has been expanded to require a dental examination as part of the current comprehensive physical for new enterers in Pre-K and Kindergarten and subsequent grades 2, 7 and 12. The policy will be phased in over the next 5 years, with Pre-K and Kindergarten beginning School Year (SY) 2015-16, grade 2 (SY 2016-17), grade 7 (SY 2017-18) and grade 12 (SY 2018-19).
As we begin to phase-in the dental examination components of this policy and supporting programs, our children and their future children will slowly reap the benefits of preventive oral health care. Over the next five years, together as a TEAM, we will assist students and their families in linking to dental homes and engaging in oral health preventative care.
I thank schools, parents, communities and dental providers for all the great work that has already been completed and the future work we have in front of us to provide West Virginia children with a healthy future and beautiful smile.
Dr. Jason Roush
West Virginia State Dental Director
March 2015
