School Health Services

Working Together to Promote the Health, Safety, and Well-being of Students

The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, School Health Services (SHS), in partnership with Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), provide services to assure the health, safety, and well-being of over 162,000 students enrolled in MCPS schools. The SHS School Community Health Nurses (registered nurses) and School Health Room Technicians (certified nursing assistants who work under the clinical oversight of a School Community Health Nurse), provide essential school health services to students during school hours.

Immunization Requirements

All incoming 7th and 8th grade students must receive vaccination against Tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) and Meningococcal meningitis (MCV4) prior to the start of the school year. In addition, all students newly enrolled in MCPS in Grades 9 through 12 are required to have one Tdap and MCV4 vaccination. Students not in compliance with Maryland vaccination requirements will be excluded from attending school until they provide documentation of the required Tdap and MCV immunizations. The requirements are in place throughout the State of Maryland. Parents should contact their doctor to make sure their child is properly immunized and submit a copy of the documentation to the child's school health nurse as soon as possible.

To ensure all students have a chance to receive the necessary immunizations, the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will hold free Back to School Immunization Clinics in August for children in grades 7-12, by appointment only. A parent or designated adult must be present with a parent-signed consent form at the time of vaccination.

For more information about the state requirement (including exemptions), visit Maryland Department of Health Center for Immunization or contact DHMH.IZInfo@maryland.gov.

What We Do

• SHS assesses the health needs of students, provides sick and emergency care, monitors to assure immunization compliance, manages communicable diseases, administers medications and treatments to students who have authorized health care provider’s orders, and maintains student health records. Staff members refer families of eligible uninsured students to the Montgomery County Office of Eligibility and Special Services.

• School Community Health Nurses provide consultation on health issues related to Individualized Education Programs and Section 504 Accommodation Plans. They provide case management for students with special health needs and chronic health conditions, and link students and families to community resources.

• SHS collaborates with public and private partners to plan and implement prevention initiatives to address community-wide public health concerns, such as childhood obesity, asthma, diabetes, oral health, minority disparities, and barriers to health care.

• The Hearing and Vision Programs conduct screenings to identify and refer students at risk for hearing and vision problems. Screening sessions are scheduled during the school year for children in preschool, kindergarten, Grades 1 and 8, and by teacher referral.

• The School Health Lead Program assures compliance with Maryland requirements by notifying parents of students in prekindergarten, kindergarten, and Grade 1 of the requirements to complete the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Blood Lead Testing Certificate.

• SHS oversees the Head Start Early Childhood Program’s health services, which provides screenings and connects students to medical and dental services.

• SHS staff members working at the SHS Immunization Center located at the Rocking Horse Road Center, provide immunizations and tuberculosis screenings to newly enrolling international students, and to students returning to the U.S. after living abroad for one year or more.

Where We Are Located

School-based Health and Wellness Centers:

• Broad Acres Elementary School
• Gaithersburg Elementary School (also serving Rosemont and Washington Grove Elementary Schools)
• Harmony Hills Elementary School
• Highland Elementary School
• New Hampshire Estates Elementary School (also serving Oak View Elementary School)
• Rolling Terrace Elementary School
• Summit Hall Elementary School (also serving Rosemont and Washington Grove Elementary Schools)
• Viers Mill Elementary School
• Weller Road Elementary School

School-based Wellness Centers: 

• Gaithersburg High School
• John F. Kennedy High School
• Northwood High School
• Seneca Valley High School
• Watkins Mill High School
• Wheaton High School

Contact the School Community Health Nurse assigned to your child’s school if you have questions about health services at your child's school.

Important Forms

Form 525-12: Authorization to Provide Medically Prescribed Treatment

Form 525-12: Autorización para Proveer Tratamiento Médico Prescrito

Form 525-13: Authorization to Administer Prescribed Medication

Form 525-13: Autorización para Suministro de Medicamento Recetado

Form 525-14: Emergency Care for the Management of a Student with a Diagnosis of Anaphylaxis

Form 525-14: Atención do Emergencia para Estudiantes con Diagnóstico de Anafilaxia

Form 525-15: Authorization to Provide Gastrostomy Tube Feeding

Form 240-23: Special Dietary Needs Form

Form 345-22: Physical Education Physician Contact Form

Form 560-30: Medical Card for Athletes

Form 560-30: Tarjeta Médica del Atleta

Form SR-5: Health Screenings

Form SR-6: Health Inventory

Form SR-6: Expediente de Examen Físico de las Escuelas de Maryland

Form SR-8: Pre-Participation Physical Evaluation for Athletics

Form SR-8: Examen Físico Previo a Participación en Deportes

Form DHMH 896: Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Immunization Certificate

Additional forms related to student health are available here in multiple languages.