medical records with the affadavit should not be needed!

Seems to me that we should be able to
send the schools a letter saying that our affidavit attests to that fact that
we are providing the proper medical care. Then state that the records
are on file at the doctor's office and that you don't want to have them
at the school since they are private records and that your students are
not coming onto their property and are not in their buildings. A simple
letter in our own words should suffice.
BUT
This is what the PDE says, accept as far as medical records: (1) a form
completed by the physician; (2) a letter from the physician saying the
services were completed and immunizations done; or (3) a letter by the
parent of religious objection to the services/immunizations.

I'd add a fourth.
a letter by the parents saying that the records are private and on file
at the doctor's office. I see no need to spend money at the doctor's
office for a piece of paper saying that the services were completed. You
just tell the school that they were completed and sign it. After all,
you are the supervisor of the program and signed the affidavit.

Most of us have used affidavits that attest to the fact that we are following the law, ie. have a high school diploma and the affidavit is evidence thereof, have no felonies and the affidavit is evidence thereof, etc.
BUT, for some reason, the affidavit is NOT enough for the medical care and that records need to be provided or the physician needs to provides a letter. It seems that if the parents address the issue that they are providing the care as directed, actual records would not be needed (unless the student is participating in a school district sport or other activity). So, a student that is solely home educated, the affidavit attests that the records/care is at the doctor's office without attaching the actual records, but now, the school districts are not reading that in the BEC. The districts are saying they need the actual records or physician's letter. This is more paperwork and cost for the parents and oversight on the part of the districts. This is a bit different than parents that object to the actual services; this is objecting to sharing this private information when their child is not involved in school activities.


I think that the following are reasonable options:

those that had children in the district previously, if they had medical
records on file from that time does not have to resubmit records, just
let them know they are on file, and which school they were in.

or a letter saying you object to specific medical care, ie
immunizations, dental exams, medical exams, etc.

or a letter indicating that we have objections to filing medical
information with the school is also acceptable.

even if the affidavit attests to the fact that the child/ren are
receiving appropriate medical care then schools are just asking for
documentation that would cover them if they were audited. That does
not sound inappropriate. Apparently a letter stating that we object to
providing the info is enough.

You should be handing in at the beginning of the year: Affidavit and
objectives ( and a letter saying your are handling the medical care as
in the code).

New PA Dept of Education Contact Person

There is a new PDE Contact Person since Sarah Pearce retired.
This is a "better" source of information than your local district. The local district is dealing with their own students and often don't have time to study the law.

Suzanne Tallman
Education Administration Specialist
Pennsylvania Department of Education
333 Market Street, Harrisburg PA 17126

Phone: 717.214.8212
Fax: 717.214.4389

Email:
Web: