The Essential Back to School Guide
As you're preparing for a healthy school year, it's important to ensure your kids are up to date with their physicals and immunizations so they are ready for a new school year in good health.
Follow these tips to help you prepare your children for the school year.
Make yourself aware of important deadlines.
The State of Illinois requires parents/guardians to provide proof of required immunizations and school physical exams before October 15, 2024, or their child will face exclusion from school.
- Important dates for Chicago Public School (CPS) students:
- Physical Examination: Due upon enrollment or no later than October 15, 2024.
- Must be completed within twelve months before entry to pre-K, kindergarten, sixth and ninth grade, and any student entering CPS for the first time.
- Vision Examination: Due upon enrollment or no later than October 15, 2024, for students starting any grade level for the first time in Illinois and/or students entering kindergarten.
- NOTE: It is important to visit your optometrist (eye doctor) for a valid school vision exam. Your ACCESS provider can provide suggestions for an eye doctor in the area.
- Dental Examination: Due May 15, 2025, for kindergarten, second grade, sixth grade and ninth grade.
- NOTE: It is important to visit your dentist for a valid school dental exam. Ask your ACCESS provider if you need information for the nearest dentist.
- Physical Examination: Due upon enrollment or no later than October 15, 2024.
Schedule a school physical with your child’s ACCESS provider to ensure they stay up to date on their vaccinations and meet their school’s health requirements.
Health requirements vary by age and school system. Check your school’s health requirements and speak to your medical provider about the recommended vaccinations and exams based on your child’s age.
- Helpful Resources:
- Find Chicago Public Schools health requirements here.
- For a list of recommended and required vaccinations by the American Academy of Pediatrics, refer to the Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule.
- Required Forms:
- Your school will require proof of the required exams and vaccinations. Your ACCESS provider has access to a school physical form, which is accepted at all Illinois schools.
- Tips:
- Your ACCESS provider can issue you an ACCESS immunization passport to keep track of your child's vaccinations and the dates they received them. You can also access an immunization tracking card from your state health department. (IDPH immunization records)
- Ask for two copies of your child’s records. One set should go to the school nurse, and the other set can be kept at home in a safe place so you can access them quickly if your school needs them.
Additional Tips for a Healthy Start to the School Year
- Introduce yourself to your children's teachers and school nurses. Create a relationship with your children’s teachers and school nurses. Let them know of any concerns you have that may impact your child in the classroom including any allergies or specific illnesses that require medication during the school day.
- Kids mimic your attitude. Make returning to school a positive thing, not something to dread or fear. To help prepare your child for their return to the classroom and the mixed emotions that may come with a new school year, you can follow the three N’s strategy to use facts to help your child work through their feelings of fear or anxiety.
How We Can Help
Back-to-school physicals ensure your children have a safe and healthy school year. ACCESS offers comprehensive and affordable school physicals, annual wellness exams, sports physicals, and vaccinations at all our 34 Chicagoland locations.
Sources:
https://www.cps.edu/sites/back-to-school/health-school-forms/
https://www.cps.edu/schools/apply-enroll/enrollment-requirements/
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/records/keeping-track.html
Updated August 12, 2024