School Health

Medium

Information on a variety of school health topics which will provide schools with resources to maximize school health for youth.

Medium

Health Education

Physical Education

North Dakota state law requires students who are attending school to be up to date on immunizations.  North Dakota Century Code 23-07-17 mandates all students in kindergarten through 12th grade meet a minimum number of required immunizations prior to school entrance. 

All children must be up-to-date according to the school immunization requirements or have claimed an exemption by October 1st of each school year or they must be excluded from school. Children enrolling in school after October 1st have 30 days to be up-to-date or claim an exemption or they must be excluded from school. 

Please contact the North Dakota Department of Health Immunization Program at (701) 328-3386 or (800) 472-2180 with any questions or concerns regarding school immunizations.

Mandated reporters are people whose profession requires them to report suspected child abuse or neglect.  In North Dakota, anyone may report suspected child abuse or neglect to Child Protection Services.  However, certain professionals must, by law, report child abuse or neglect - in other words, they are mandated reporters.  Schools are the primary places where children are seen every day by trained professionals who can observe their appearance and behavior. For this reason, educators are mandated reporters. 

In 2023, the Sixty-eighth Legislative Assembly passed House Bill 1144 which states that “ Each public and nonpublic school teacher, administrator, and counselor annually shall provide documentation to the Department of Public Instruction of the individual’s completion of the online interactive training module provided by the Department of Health and Human Services for mandated reporters of suspected child abuse or neglect.” 

The documentation of completion will be in the form of an assurance statement.  

  1. MISO3 -  Annually all contracted professional educational staff members working in North Dakota schools are required to complete an MIS03.
  2. Annual Compliance Report - (completed by district administration) Annual report submitted to verify the school/LEA has met all the statutory requirements for school approval.

The requirement regarding the mandated reporter training has been added to both the nonpublic and public school reports. 

  • For nonpublic schools, it is located under 4) Safety Requirements (e): Each public and nonpublic school teacher, administrator, and counselor has completed the online interactive training module provided by the Department of Health and Human Services for mandated reporters of suspected child abuse or neglect (HB 1144).  
  • For public schools, it is located under 5) Safety Requirements (e) Each public and nonpublic school teacher, administrator, and counselor has completed the online interactive training module provided by the Department of Health and Human Services for mandated reporters of suspected child abuse or neglect (HB 1144).

*Districts may wish to develop their own procedures to track and record when staff has completed the required training, i.e., a spreadsheet with staff name and date of completion, certificates of completion on file in the office, etc.  

The Department of Health and Human Services has a statewide toll-free phone line for reporting cases of suspected child abuse and neglect. The number is 833-958-3500. It is staffed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time, Monday - Friday. Callers should call 9-1-1 if a child is in immediate danger. 

  • Medication Administration Training Guide has been developed by the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services to assist nurses in the training of unlicensed school staff on medication administration. A Certificate of Completion on the last page can be printed and signed by the nurse conducting the training.
  • Medication Administration Training A flexible, online course designed to equip school personnel with the knowledge and skills necessary to safely administer medication. This course also provides best practices for school administrators overseeing the safe and effective administration of medication in the school. The course is available on the ND Education Hub website, whether your school is with or without access to a school nurse.
  • Asthma Resource Booklet - ND Department of Health & Human Services  For additional information, contact the ND Dept of Health & Human Services 701-328-2436.

Physical health, mental health, safety issues, and social factors all cause children to be chronically absent from school. Chronic absenteeism is a critical national problem that puts more than 6.5 million schoolchildren at risk for falling behind academically, dropping out of school, and serious long-term health, employment, and financial consequences

To address the rise in chronic absenteeism and extreme chronic absenteeism, Dr. Wade shared the following tiers of intervention from MTSS along with strategies for support within each tier from Attendance Works.

  • Foundational supports promote positive conditions for learning, including:
    • Healthy learning environments;
    • Welcoming, safe school climates;
    • Learning supports; and
    • Active student and family engagement.
  • Tier 1 (Universal Prevention) supports for all students and families as well as for students missing 0‒9 percent of school include:
    • Clear, concise, and consistent communication about schedules and expectations;
    • Routines, rituals, and celebrations related to attendance and engagement;
    • Personalized positive communication to families when students are absent; and
    • Connection to a caring adult in the school.
  • Tier 2 (Early Intervention) supports for students missing 10‒20 percent of school include:
    • Common community and school barriers identified and addressed;
    • Attendance strategies added to Individualized Education Plans (IEPs);
    • Family visits;
    • Mentors; and
    • Intensive tutoring.
  • Tier 3 (Intensive Intervention) supports for students missing 20 percent or more of school include:
    • Educational support champions/advocates;
    • Interagency case management;
    • Student attendance review board; and
    • Individualized learning and success plan leading to graduation.
Resources

The School Health Profiles is a biennial survey conducted by state education and health agencies among middle and high school principals and lead health education teachers assessing school health policies and practices.  Profiles monitors the current status of:

  • School health education requirements and content
  • Physical education and physical activity
  • Practices related to bullying and sexual harassment
  • School-based health services
  • School health coordination
  • Family engagement and community involvement
  • School health policies related to tobacco-use prevention and nutrition

General Information about School Health Profiles

Profiles Results

 

NDCC 23-12-09Smoking in public places and places of employment - Definitions
NDCC 12.1-31-03Sale of tobacco to minors and use by minors prohibited
NDCC 12.1-31-10Sale of bidis prohibited
NDCC 51-32-01Prohibited acts regarding sale of tobacco products to minors

 

 NDQUITS

NDQuits supports individuals of all ages who want to quit but have specific tools available to youth and young adults who are ready to be tobacco-free through the My Life, My Quit program.

The My Life, My Quit program provides youth access to tailored resources for quitting, including:
•    Youth coaches who receive special training on the best ways to build relationships with youth.
•    Five coaching sessions by phone, live texting, or chat with a coach who will listen and help teens navigate social situations while finding healthy ways to cope with stress.
•    Text or call a dedicated toll-free number (1-855-891-9989) for real-time coaching.
•    Additional text messages for support to quit vaping, smoking, or chewing tobacco.
•    Simplified program registration and enrollment process to get to coaching faster.
•    Website mylifemyquit.com with online enrollment, chat with a live coach, information about vaping and tobacco, and activities to support quitting.
•    Promotional and educational materials designed for youth with messages from youth about quitting tobacco and vaping and how to ask for support.
•    A water-marked certificate of completion of the program.
 

Topical Resources

Trainings