BP 5141.22

Students

 

Infectious Diseases

 

The Governing Board desires to protect students from risks posed by exposure to infectious diseases while providing an appropriate education for all students.

 

The Superintendent or designee shall determine whether to admit a student with an infectious disease, and shall exclude students only in accordance with law.  In making this determination, he/she shall consult the student's parents/guardians, the student's physician and/or the county health department, in accordance with law and consistent with confidentiality provisions. Because bloodborne pathogens such as hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are not casually transmitted, the sole presence of bloodborne pathogens is not sufficient reason to exclude students from attending school.

 

Parents/guardians are encouraged to inform the Superintendent or designee if their child has an infectious disease so that school staff may work cooperatively with the student's parents/guardians to minimize the child's exposure to other diseases in the school setting. The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that student confidentiality rights are strictly observed in accordance with law. No district employee shall release medical information, including knowledge of a bloodborne pathogen infection, without written consent from the parent/guardian or adult student.  Such information shall be shared only with those persons specifically named in the written permission.

 

The Board requires students and staff to routinely observe universal precautions to prevent exposure to bloodborne pathogens and to prevent the spread of all infectious disease. 

 

The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that the district's health education program provides information about the nature of bloodborne pathogens and their transmission.

 

Legal Reference:

            EDUCATION CODE

            48210-48216            Persons excluded

            49073-49075            Privacy of pupil records

            49076                         Access to records by persons without written consent or under judicial order

            49403                         Cooperation in control of communicable disease and immunization of students

            49405                         Smallpox control

            49406                         Examination for tuberculosis (employees)

            49408                         Information of use in emergencies

            49450                         Rules to insure proper care and secrecy

            49451                         Parent's refusal to consent to medical exam

            49602                         Confidentiality of student information

            CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION

            Article 1, Section 1 Right to Privacy

            CIVIL CODE

            56-56.37                    Confidentiality of Medical Information Act

            1798-1798.76            Information Practices Act

            HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE

            120230                       Exclusion for communicable disease

            120325-120380        Immunization against communicable diseases

            120875-120895        AIDS information

            120975-121020        Mandated blood testing and confidentiality to protect public health

            120980                       Unauthorized disclosures

            121010                       Disclosure to certain persons without written consent

            121475-121520        Tuberculosis tests for pupils

            CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 8

            5193                          Bloodborne pathogen standards

            UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 20

            1232g                         Family Educational and Privacy Rights Act

            1400-1487                 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 

            UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 29

            794                             Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

            COURT DECISIONS

            Phipps v. Saddleback Valley Unified School District, (1988) 204 Cal. App. 3d 1110

            Doe v. Belleville Public School District, (1987) 672 F.Supp. 342

            Thomas v. Atascadero Unified School District, (1987) 662 F.Supp. 376

 

Adopted:  2/10/99

Revised:  5/10/06