Health Services

MPS follows the guidelines developed by the epidemiologists at Hennepin County Community Health Department when deciding if a student should be sent home or kept home from school. The Hennepin County Infectious Diseases in Childcare Settings and Schools Manual informs administrators, childcare providers, caregivers, parents and guardians, and school health staff about specific infectious disease problems they may encounter in the childcare setting or in schools. This manual is designed to provide specific disease prevention and control guidelines which are consistent with the national standards put forth by the American Public Health Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

• Am I Well Enough to go to School?
• Estoy Bien Para Estar en la Escuela?

Up-to-Date immunizations are required for all children who attend Minneapolis Public Schools, early childhood family education (ECFE), early childhood special education (ECSE), school readiness programs, and other school district preschool and pre-kindergarten programs. 

Minnesota school immunization law and MPS Regulation 5630A: Student Immunization state in order for a student to enroll in childcare, early education programs, or school, a parent/guardian must show they have received school required immunizations or an exemption.   

Need help finding immunizations? 

• Free walk-in childhood immunizations are available at upcoming events hosted by Hennepin County 

• Minneapolis School Based Clinics offer free immunizations for high schoolers with parent/guardian consent 

• Hennepin County Public Health Clinic offers free immunizations by appointment: 612-543-5555 

• Minnesota Health Centers (Spanish) offer low-cost immunizations and health care services for children & adults 

• Check the MPS Immunization Information page for current immunization information and upcoming free immunization events. 

Immunization Exemption Information: 

Medical exemptions must be signed by a health care provider. Conscientious exemptions must be signed by the parent/guardian and notarized (see forms below):   

• Early Childhood & Pre-K:  Are Your Kids Ready? Child Care and Early Childhood Programs Immunization Law (PDF)  

• Kindergarten through grade 12: Are Your Kids Ready? Minnesota K-12 Immunization Law (PDF)  

• Translated forms in Hmong, Karen, Russian, Spanish, Somali, Vietnamese

Students who are homeless, in foster care, or waiting to be placed in foster care are allowed to enroll without showing immunization records per Federal policy.  

More Information on Immunization Requirements: 

To learn more about current school immunization requirements, exemptions, and special circumstances go to the Minnesota Department of Health Vaccines for Infants, Children, and Adolescents website or contact the school health office. 

• Parent Information on Minnesota Immunization Law 

• Minnesota Department of Health Immunization page 

For the safety of students, it is recommended that medication be given at home whenever possible. For example, medication prescribed three times a day can be given before school, after school and at bedtime. If medication must be given during school hours, we want you to be aware of the following school medication policy:

1. School personnel can only give medication with the written order of a health care provider that is licensed to prescribe and the written consent of a parent/guardian. Click on the link for a copy of the medication consent form which is also available in Spanish.


2. Medication must be brought to school in a container labeled by the pharmacy. The following information must be on the label:
   • Child's full name
   • Name and dosage of medication
   • Time and directions for administration
   • Licensed Prescriber's  name
   • Current date
      
3. Medications should be brought to school by a parent/guardian or a responsible adult. If there is medication remaining after treatment or at the end of the school year, please make arrangements for it to be picked up.


4. Ask the pharmacist to put the medication in two containers, one for school and one for home.


5. Mixed dosages in a single container will not be accepted for use at school (for example, 5 mg and 10 mg tablets in the same bottle).


6. All medication administered at school will be kept in a locked drawer, cabinet or file (except when a student has permission to carry their medicine with them. See #11 below).


7. A new medication consent form is required:
   • When the dosage or time of administration is changed
   • At the beginning of each school year
   • If discontinued medication is restarted
      
8. Parent/guardian must notify the school in writing when the medication is discontinued.


9. No Tylenol or over-the-counter medication can be given to children in grades K-6 unless the above procedures are followed. Over-the-counter medications must be in the original container with dosing recommendations visible. Secondary students may self-administer non-prescription pain medication that does NOT contain ephedrine if the parent submits written authorization annually and the medication is brought to school in a properly labeled bottle. Click on the link for a copy of the self-carry pain med consent form. This form is also available in Spanish, Hmong, and Somali.


10. It is the joint responsibility of the parent/guardian, student, and school personnel to see that the medication is given at the right time.


11. Students can carry medicine with them (for example, an asthma rescue inhaler) if they have written consent from parent/guardian and health care provider (including the request for the student to self-carry) and the school nurse has met with the student and checked that they can safely and successfully carry their own medicine.


12. School nurses will write a plan for giving emergency medicines (Epipen, Diastat, glucagon, etc.) after assessing the student's needs, consulting with the parent/guardian and health care provider, and providing appropriate training.


13. When medications are returned to parents, health services staff should encourage parents to dispose of unwanted medications at one of these area collection sites. More information is available on the MN Pollution Control Website.


14. Medications that remain unclaimed or cannot be returned to a parent/guardian will be kept in a secure locked location until disposed of through MPS Environmental Health & Safety department.