Ok I found the law. The form is required every year.

(a) Except as provided in § 38-603, each student attending prekindergarten through grade 12 in a public, public charter, private, or independent school in the District of Columbia shall furnish the school annually with a certificate of health completed and signed by a physician or advanced practice nurse who has examined the student during the 12-month period immediately preceding the 1st day of the school year or the date of the student’s enrollment in the school, whichever occurs later. The examination shall cover all items required by the certificate of health form for the student’s particular age group.


I stand corrected. I still don't understand why the form states it's needed every year for athletes. I also don't understand why DC seems to be one of the only states that requires it every year. Oh well. Guess I have to find another physician.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All of the day cares, private preschools, and charter schools our various children have attended require them yearly for re-enrollment.

All in DC.

VA does as well

No it doesn't.

You're right just upon entry. This is what DC is meant to do but schools have misinterpreted the form and have always just done it every year.

No, it's not the schools misrepresenting it. OSSE comes in and checks all of the forms and verifies compliance. The certification for preschool programs does the same. I know for a fact that if the preschool kids aren't in compliance with the physical, immunizations and dental (age 3 and up) then the place can be cited and shut down.

The dates are more restrictive for when a student participating in athletics needs a new form

The argument is whether there's a difference between enrollment or re-enrollment.

I see nothing anywhere on DCPS' website regarding a reenrollment process vs a first time enrollment process. In both cases you have to prove residency, give permission for photographs and the school directory.

Anonymous wrote:There are many immunization series that are not complete by age 3 or 4, when most DC kids are coming into school (unlike MD or VA when they start at 5).

HPV is required and can't be given until kids are approaching middle school. These forms are now the DOH tries to gauge how many kids are or aren't covered.

Also more at risk kids. Annual health forms / annual checkups make sense people. Maybe not as much for the high-SES DCUM demographic but as a system - yes.

Ok let's go back again. This is not a debate of why it's needed. This is a debate of whether it is needed. The form itself says it's needed for athletes every year. Why call that out of its needed for every student every year? Why can't anyone answer this question?

There are many immunization series that are not complete by age 3 or 4, when most DC kids are coming into school (unlike MD or VA when they start at 5).

HPV is required and can't be given until kids are approaching middle school. These forms are now the DOH tries to gauge how many kids are or aren't covered.

Also more at risk kids. Annual health forms / annual checkups make sense people. Maybe not as much for the high-SES DCUM demographic but as a system - yes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All of the day cares, private preschools, and charter schools our various children have attended require them yearly for re-enrollment.

All in DC.

VA does as well

No it doesn't.

You're right just upon entry. This is what DC is meant to do but schools have misinterpreted the form and have always just done it every year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All of the day cares, private preschools, and charter schools our various children have attended require them yearly for re-enrollment.

All in DC.

VA does as well

No it doesn't.

Anonymous wrote:Seriously folks? I Actually appreciate someone is keeping track of whether my kids' classmates are current in their immunizations. It is a public health thing.

And not a huge burden. Bring the form with you every time you bring your kid for his annual medical or dental exam. Our doc and dentist keep extra DC forms if you need them. Scan the form so you have an electronic copy. Email it to the school and any camp that requests it. No one has ever asked me for the original. They are good for one year so you can submit an old form at re enrollment so long as it is less than a year old. Then update it when you go for your next visit.

You're not getting it. And no, having a physical is not a public health thing. Immunizations sure? Not getting weighed and measured. We do not need a big brother govt. Again, can anyone point out that it's a law to have physical every year?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All of the day cares, private preschools, and charter schools our various children have attended require them yearly for re-enrollment.

All in DC.

VA does as well

Anonymous wrote:All of the day cares, private preschools, and charter schools our various children have attended require them yearly for re-enrollment.

All in DC.