A. Qualifications of Screeners

Screeners shall be licensed physicians, individuals trained by a Certified Scoliosis Screening Instructor to perform scoliosis screening, or individuals who can document completion of a Scoliosis Screening Workshop within the past five years and demonstrate competence to a Certified Scoliosis Screening Instructor. School health personnel, volunteers, and other school employees who are not classroom teachers shall screen if they have been trained in scoliosis screening by a Certified Scoliosis Screening Instructor (CSSI).

B. Guidelines for Screening

Girls shall receive a scoliosis screening in the sixth grade and the eighth grades. Boys shall receive a scoliosis screening in the eighth grade.

C. Screening Procedure

The Scoliosis Screening Procedure shall be used as the first stage of screening. If the Scoliosis Screening Procedure indicates positive findings for possible scoliosis, the Scoliometer shall be used as the second stage of screening.

D. Recommendation for Referral

Refer a child with an abnormal screening and/or scoliometer reading of ≥ 7° to a licensed physician. It is highly recommended that a child with a scoliometer reading of > 8° be referred to an orthopedist.

E. Referral System

A Certified Scoliosis Screening Instructor or School Health Nurse shall contact the parents of a child who fails the screening by letter, telephone call, or in person to:

F. Follow-Up The School shall schedule students, who were not screened because of absence, within 90 days after the missed screening. Any reason for exclusion from the screening shall be documented. The School shall recontact the parents of students who failed the screening and were referred, but then missed that appointment. This contact shall be made by letter, telephone call, or in person at least one additional time to discuss the importance of follow-up.