School attendance is necessary for students to be successful. Students who attend school regularly have been shown to achieve at higher levels than students who do not have regular attendance. Therefore, it is important to follow public health guidance to ensure that children are encouraged to be at school.

Students only need to stay home from school if any of the following exist:

Before a single dose of medication can be administered to a student in a JCPS school or on a field trip, appropriate authorization must be on file.

Authorization forms are valid only for the current school year.

Written authorization from the healthcare provider must be submitted any time a medication-related change occurs (e.g., a change in dosage or the time the medication should be taken).

JCPS cannot accept written or verbal requests from parents for medication administration or any medication-related changes.

The time the medication is administered must be specified for all daily medications.

Authorization forms must be signed by the parent/guardian, and healthcare providers must also sign over-the-counter medications.

Permission Form for Prescribed or Over-the-Counter Medication (PDF)

• An over-the-counter medication will be given more than three days in a row, or

• If the student will be self-carrying a medication

According to Kentucky state regulations and Jefferson County Board of Education (JCBE) policy, students must meet various health requirements.

Families are encouraged to have a regular medical provider for their children. If you do not have health insurance for your child and need help to see if they are eligible for Medicaid or the Kentucky Children's Health Insurance Program (KCHIP), please contact the nurse or Family Resource and Youth Services Center (FRYSC) coordinator for your school. If your child is eligible for free/reduced-price lunch at school, they may qualify for Medicaid or KCHIP.

For those without health insurance or no regular healthcare provider, arrangements can be made for these services to be provided at school by JCPS nurse practitioners and school nurses. Please contact the nurse at school or the Health & Wellness Office for scheduling. Staff cannot do the eye examination, but vouchers are available for those families who qualify.

All school health services are essential to support student success. Please return a completed school nurse office consent each year so your child(ren) can be seen and cared for. Parents are notified before any regular health screening is completed.

We have multiple local options to help families get their children caught up on vaccines—easily, conveniently, and at no cost:

School-Based Vaccine Clinics

Nearly every JCPS school has a scheduled vaccine clinic offering multiple required and recommended vaccines.

Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics

Our APRNs rotate through schools and can provide vaccines onsite. If a student misses a clinic day, connecting them with the APRN is often a quick solution.

CB Young (CBY) & Office of Multilingual Learners (OML) Clinics

JCPS Health and Wellness clinics at CBY and OML offer vaccine appointments for students and families. To schedule, call 502-485-3387.

Primary Care Providers

If a student has a medical home and insurance, families are encouraged to go through their primary care provider for vaccines to maintain continuity of care.

Louisville Metro Department of Public Health & Wellness

The local health department provides vaccines for children who are uninsured or underinsured.

Looking for more options?

Our JCPS Health Resource Guide for Families includes details on all local vaccine providers and community health clinics: Healthcare Resources - Louisville Kentucky