Local law requires all students in the District of Columbia to be up to date on their immunizations in order to attend a school, unless they have a valid medical or religious exemption. All public and public charter schools will implement the District’s School Immunization Policy for the 2024-25 school year.
For questions, please contact OSSE's Health & Wellness team at [email protected].
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Schools play an important role in keeping students safe, healthy, and ready to learn. Many infectious diseases, such as measles, are highly contagious and dangerous for our youngest District residents. In order to prevent the spread of these infectious diseases and to keep students healthy and in school, it is vital that all students are fully immunized while attending school. Immunizations are the best defense against some of the most common and sometimes deadly infectious diseases.
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The Immunization of School Students Act of 1979 requires schools to verify immunization certification for all students as part of enrollment and attendance.
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During the 2024-25 school year, only non-compliant students in grades pre-K 3, kindergarten, 7, or 11 will be eligible for temporary exclusion from school until immunization certification is met. Non-compliant students these grades will receive notification on Oct. 28 that they must receive their required certification by Dec. 6. Students in all other grades must also be compliant with their immunization certification but will not be eligible for temporary exclusion due to non-compliance. Schools should refer to the District’s School Immunization Policy for full details.
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There are two attendance codes for implementing the District’s School Immunization Policy to be used when non-compliant students in the four key grades are temporarily excluded from school (unexcused absence – immunization: AFUI) and when reclassifying those missed school days upon the student’s return (excused absence – immunization: AFEI). Schools should refer to the District’s School Immunization Policy for full details on how and when to use these two attendance codes.
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Schools are strongly encouraged to begin reviewing immunization compliance and notifying non-compliant families over spring and summer 2024 in order to allow plenty of time for families to make appointments and secure any missing immunizations before the 2024-25 school year. Schools can access immunization compliance of their current students via DC Health’s Immunization Compliance Portal (ICP) and enter new records via the School Health Management (SHM, used by Children’s School Services nurses) or the District of Columbia Immunization Information System (DOCIIS). The ICP will update when the 2024-25 student rosters are sent to OSSE and uploaded by DC Health to DOCIIS and SHM.
- OSSE Immunization Landing Page - The OSSE immunization webpage provides multiple resources for schools and families on enforcement of immunization requirements
- District’s School Year 2024-25 School Immunization Policy
- Notification Letter Templates
- Letter 1N: Template Notification Letter for Non-Exclusion Grades: Missing Immunizations
- Letter 1E: Template Preliminary Notification Letter for Exclusion Grades: Missing Immunizations
- Letter 2: Template Warning Notification of Temporary Exclusion
- Letter 3: Template Final Notification of Temporary Exclusion
- Letter 4: Template Return Notification
Before the 2024-25 school year begins:
- Submit any questions about the policy to [email protected],
- Assemble School Health Teams and begin reviewing school-level immunization compliance.
- Send notifications to all families regarding the new policy coming next school year.
- Utilize DC Health’s Immunization Compliance Portal (ICP) to review immunization compliance of current students.
- Enter immunization records into School Health Management (SHM) or District of Columbia Immunization Information System (DOCIIS).
- Identify non-compliant students and notify families of any missing immunizations.
Oct. 7, 2024 – Enrollment Count Day
Oct. 15 – 25, 2024 – Develop warning notifications of temporary exclusion.
Oct. 28, 2024 – Send warning notifications of temporary exclusion to all families of non-compliant students in grades pre-k, K, 7 and 11.
Nov. 2024 – Send reminders to families of non-compliant students.
Dec. 6, 2024 – Send final notifications of temporary exclusion to all families of non-compliant students in grades pre-k, K, 7 and 11.
Dec. 9, 2024 – Temporarily exclude non-compliant students in grades pre-k, K, 7 and 11.