Health Services

Students may not possess or consume any medications, including over-the-counter medications, without the express written orders of a physician. Designated faculty and staff members will administer all medications to students during school hours and during school-sponsored activities. Parents should make every effort to give prescribed doses of medication at home. Medication will only be administered when it is necessary to maintain the student in school. A new Medication Authorization form must be submitted to the school at the beginning of each school year.

Elevators are not for general student use. Student use of the school elevators requires a physician’s written order. The order must indicate that elevator use is necessary and must specify the length of time the accommodation is needed. The physician's order must be turned in to the Health Services office, and an elevator pass will be issued to the student for the length of time indicated on the order.  Elevator passes are limited to students with temporary and permanent disabilities.

In the school setting, certain medical conditions require an action plan to effectively manage the condition during the school day.  Emergency action plans must be updated by the student’s physician each school year and submitted to the Health Services office.  

Please see the list below for copies of emergency action plans for asthma, food allergies, diabetes and seizures:

• Asthma
• Food Allergies
• Diabetes
• Seizures

Physicals and immunization records for incoming freshmen (2023-2024 school year) must be submitted to Health Services by October 13, 2023. It is important to schedule an appointment with the student's primary care physician as soon as possible in order to meet the necessary deadline. Please click on the link below for the State of Illinois DHS Certificate of Child Health Examination. Forms may also be obtained from the Health Services office.

DHS Certificate of Child Health Examination

Proof of School Dental Examination Form

As of October 16, 2015, parents or guardians requesting a religious exemption from immunizations must submit the Illinois Certificate of Religious Exemption form.  This form is to be signed by the child’s physician as well as the parent.  This is required in lieu of vaccination record to begin classes at OPRF.

Vision screening will be done, as state mandated, for all Special Education students and all students transferring into Oak Park and River Forest High School for the first time.  Vision screening is not a substitute for a complete eye and vision evaluation by an eye doctor.  Students are not required to undergo vision screening if an optometrist or ophthalmologist has completed and signed a report form indicating that an examination has been administered within the last 12 months and that evaluation is on file at the school.  This notice is not permission to test, and permission is not required to be returned.  Parents may opt out with a written notice to the school. 

Public Act 097-0910 requires that on or before December 1 of each year, every public school district and registered non-public school shall make publicly available the immunization data they are required to submit to the State Board of Education by November 15.

Per Illinois Department of Public Health Administrative Code, all students “entering the 12th grade shall show proof of receiving two doses of meningococcal conjugate vaccination (MCV), unless the first dose was administered after 16 years of age. In this case, only one dose after 16 years of age is required.” Proof of meningococcal vaccination must be submitted by October 15th of the student's 12th grade year.

IDPH Meningococcal Requirement Letter

Illinois state law requires each student to have a physical examination performed by a licensed health care provider (MD, DO, APN or PA).  State law also requires evidence of state-required vaccinations as outlined in the document below.  The School Code Section 665.120 of Illinois provides for an exclusion from school for students not in compliance with health requirements.  Students may not attend classes at Oak Park and River Forest High School until the health examination and immunization records are on file and in compliance with the regulations outlined in the documents below.