school health

Many Vermont schools and childcare facilities are in older buildings, which means they are more likely to have lead in their plumbing. Because there is no safe level of lead in the body, and young children absorb lead into their systems more easily than adults do, it's important to ensure lead levels in drinking water are as low as possible. Fixing a lead in drinking water problem is often easy and low cost. Solutions can include replacing plumbing fixtures, removing redundant or seldom-used fixtures, and encouraging the use of centrally located, well-maintained bottle fill stations.

Vermont law requires all schools and licensed or registered child care facilities to test their drinking water for lead and remediate if levels are at or above 4 parts per billion (ppb).

Everyone with asthma – especially children and teens – should have an up-to-date Asthma Action Plan. This is a written plan that you fill out with your child and your child’s doctor to help control asthma and know what to do in emergencies.

Schools play a critical role in promoting the health of young people and helping them establish lifelong healthy behaviors, from early child care through college. Proper nutrition and regular physical activity improves academic performance.

This resource provides guidance to school administrators and school nurses in the developing, implementing and evaluating school health services.

The School Health Profiles is a biannual set of surveys supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of Adolescent and School Health’s (DASH). The Vermont Agency of Education collected data from 2002 to 2012. The Health Department began collecting data in 2014. Data are collected from middle and high school principals and lead health education teachers to assess school health policies, programs, and practices.

Find more information on a variety of state and national school nursing and school health services.

The Health Department works to support and engage adolescents in promoting their own health and healthy development. This approach allows youth to share insights, take leadership roles, get involved with their community, build organizational leadership skills and self-esteem, and create and share important information with their peers and others who serve youth. Here are several Vermont youth engagement opportunities:  

Many Vermont supervisory unions and school districts have created wellness teams to work on health-related policies, procedures, programs, and activities.

Here you will find schedules for when children and youth should receive preventive care and recommended screenings.