School health services are provided to all Hillsborough County Public School (HCPS) students in grades pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. Services are provided in accordance with the School Health Services Plan (pursuant to section 381.0056, Florida Statutes) jointly developed by Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS), the Florida Department of Health (DOH), Hillsborough, school health advisory committee (SHAC), and public/private partners. 

School Health Services Goals
The school health services goal is to keep students healthy, in the classroom, and ready to learn. School health services' purpose is to supplement, rather than replace, parental responsibility and primary health care provider services to address students' health needs. The program is designed to encourage parental awareness of their students’ health status. Student health is promoted through prevention, early intervention, and referral for treatment of acute or chronic health problems. School health services enable students to attend school in a safe learning environment and reduce barriers to learning.

Statutory Program Requirements Section 381.0056, Florida Statutes and Florida Administrative Code Rule 64-F provide the statutory authority and rules to plan, implement and monitor school health services provided in Florida schools. HCPS school health program include: health appraisal, records review, nurse assessment, preventive dental program, vision screening, hearing screening, scoliosis screening, growth and development screening, health counseling, referral and follow up of suspected or confirmed health problems, managing students emergency health needs, FDA approved medication administration, medical treatment and procedures, prevention of communicable and infectious diseases, health education support, referral of students for appropriate health treatment, consultation with students’ parents/guardian and health care provider regarding need for health attention, and maintenance of student health information. Assuring adherence to state mandated health promotion, maintenance and screenings.

As a parent/guardian, if you choose to decline any or all health services offered, please complete the Withhold/Decline School Health Care Services Form. After printing and completing the form, please sign and submit the form to the school nurse at your child's school. This form must be completed annually.