Cedar Rapids Community School District requires a variety of immunizations, and provides many screening services for students.
Immunizations
Cedar Rapids Community School District students can receive immunizations from the following sources:
- Your child’s doctor’s office, if they provide vaccines to children. Most pediatric and family practice clinics offer vaccines to their patients; however, you may want to call ahead to be sure.
- Cedar Rapids Community School District Metro Care Connection health clinics, located at Jefferson High School, Kennedy High School, and Metro High School.
- Please contact our Metro Care Connection at 319-558-2481 to schedule immunizations.
- Linn County Public Health, located at 501 13th St NW, Cedar Rapids. Please call ahead at 319-892-6000 for eligibility criteria and appointment.
School screenings
Dental screening
UnityPoint Health/St. Luke’s Hospital – Dental Health Center: Dental hygienist(s) will provide dental screenings to children enrolled Pre-K-5th grades in qualifying schools. Parents will be notified in advance of dental screenings and have the option to opt out. In addition, fluoride varnish is available to Pre-K students with a Dental Program Consent Form signed by the parent/guardian.
Iowa law requires that any student entering kindergarten and ninth grade provide a valid Iowa Department of Public Health Certificate of Dental. (This form is available from your school nurse, dentist, or on the CRCSD Web site in the Student Services/Health Services section.) The goal of this legislation is for each student to receive the benefit of early and regular dental care including prevention, and to establish a dental home for children who may not have one.
Hearing screening
Hearing Screening: Grant Wood Area Education Agency (GWAEA) screens all students in Alternative Kindergarten (AK), kindergarten, and grades 1, 2, and 5. Students in the Early Learning Program with IEP’s will be screened. Students in grades 3, 4, middle, and high school, who are new to the school, that don’t have a documented hearing test, and some students with a history of known hearing loss will also be tested. Follow up testing may occur periodically if previous hearing test results were not within normal limits. Parents/guardians not wishing their child’s hearing be tested should notify the health office in writing at the beginning of the year. Parents/guardians with concerns about their child’s hearing may contact their school nurse or Grant Wood Area Education Agency to schedule a hearing test at any time, (319)399-6700.
Social, emotional, behavioral screening
Social, Emotional, Behavioral (SEB) Screening: Students will be screened to assess social, emotional, and behavioral well-being. The purpose of the screening is to identify areas where students may need some additional support. Follow up screening and parent communication may occur if the results indicate the need for further attention. Parents will be notified in advance of SEB screenings and have the option to opt out. Parents/guardians with concerns about their child’s social, emotional or behavioral well-being should contact the counseling or health office.
Vision screening
The parent or guardian of a child who is to be enrolled in a public or accredited nonpublic elementary school shall ensure the child is screened for vision impairment at least once before enrollment in kindergarten and again before enrollment in grade three.
To be valid, a child vision screening shall be performed on a child no earlier than one year prior to the date of the child’s enrollment in kindergarten and no later than six months after the date of the child’s enrollment in kindergarten.
The requirement for a child vision screening may be satisfied by any of the following: a. A vision screening or comprehensive eye examination by an ophthalmologist or optometrist. b. A vision screening conducted at a pediatrician’s or family practice physician’s office, a free clinic, a child care center, a local public health department, a public or accredited nonpublic school, or a community-based organization or by an advanced registered nurse practitioner or physician assistant.
All PK, AK and K students are screened by the Lion’s Club and results are analyzed by Kidsight at the U of I. Written parent/guardian consent is required.
A Certificate of Vision Screening Form is available on the district website
Parents/guardians with concerns about their child’s vision should contact the school nurse/health office.