Explanatory Standards

1. Communicable Disease Compliance (eg, OSHA)

   The school complies with all national, state, and local laws relating to communicable diseases, including OSHA requirements regarding blood-borne pathogens.

   ArtifactsBoard Policy Manual section for communicable diseases Evidence of compliance with CDC recommendations against COVID-19 Evidence of OSHA training Parent/Student Handbook section for communicable diseases
2. Immunization, Food Service, Background Screening, and Facility Inspection Compliance

   The school complies with all applicable national, state, and local health, safety, and sanitation codes including immunization records, food service regulations, fire inspections, and asbestos and radon inspection, and background screening as prescribed by Florida law.

   ArtifactsAsbestos Inspection Report Background Checks for all staff in contact with children five years of age and younger * Evidence of compliance with food service regulations Evidence of Current Fire Marshall Inspection * Evidence of Current Health Department Inspection * Evidence of fire extinguisher inspections Radon Inspection Report
3. School Maintains File for Health, Safety, and Sanitation Inspections

   The school maintains a file of annual health, safety, sanitation, and fire inspections to verify compliance with state law.

   ArtifactsEvidence of Current Fire Marshall Inspection * Evidence of Current Health Department Inspection * Evidence of HSS inspection by CSF, or by state if licensed, or by county if home-ruled
4. School Practices Process for Screening All Staff

   The school practices a process for screening potential administrators, teachers, and support staff that complies with state law and takes every precaution to protect the school community from potentially abusive persons, including Level II background screening and letters of reference.

   ArtifactAnonymized evidence of Staff Level II background screening
5. CPR Training Requirement

   The school requires a minimum of 10% of the staff members be trained in first aid and CPR procedures. One staff member or designated adult with up-to-date training in first aid and CPR must be present at all school activities.

   ArtifactRecord of staff first aid and CPR training
6. Clinic Requirements

   The school operates a well-equipped clinic area, which is under the direct supervision of a staff member or school volunteer. Clinic equipment must include cots, first aid supplies, and thermometers. Emergency procedures must be clearly defined and posted.

   ArtifactClinic area equipment inventory
7. Dispensing Medication Requirements

   The school dispenses prescription medication issued/prescribed by a physician, physician’s assistant or a nurse practitioner. The head of school, or his/her delegated staff person, is responsible for the dispensing of prescribed medications. All staff persons designated to dispense prescribed medications must be trained by a written training plan adopted by the school. Prescription medication may only be dispensed from its original container. Prescription medication may only be dispensed when accompanied by a prescription issued by a physician, physician’s assistant or a nurse practitioner, and with prior written parental permission. A log of all dispensed prescription medications must be maintained. Prescription medications must be stored in a locked cabinet or in a locked container in a refrigerator. FDA-approved oral non-prescription (over-the-counter) or sample drugs will be dispensed only when accompanied by written orders from a licensed physician, a physician’s assistant, or a nurse practitioner. Florida Statute 1006.062 is the reference for medication guidelines.

   ArtifactWritten training plan for dispensing of prescription medication
8. Child Abuse Training

   The school trains the professional and volunteer staff annually in child abuse reporting procedures in accordance with state and local regulations (FS 1012.98(12)).

   ArtifactEvidence of staff-wide training in recognizing and reporting child abuse
9. Access and Release of Student Records

   The school establishes, publishes, and practices written procedures for the access and release of students to non-custodial parties, and that controls visitor access to the school.

   ArtifactParent/student Handbook section on access to and release of students
10. Arrival/Dismissal and Parking/Traffic Procedures

    The school employs arrival and dismissal schedules and parking and traffic patterns designed to provide reasonable procedures for the safety of all students.

    ArtifactCopy of arrival and dismissal schedule and traffic pattern
11. School Posts Emergency Access Numbers

    The school posts emergency access numbers in a highly visible manner at each telephone.

    ArtifactEvidence of posted emergency access telephone numbers
12. School Maintains Fire Extinguishers and Their Use

    The school installs and maintains fire extinguishers in sufficient numbers and properly placed throughout the school, that are maintained and inspected regularly in accordance with local and state fire codes; staff members are adequately trained in their use.

    ArtifactsEvidence of fire extinguisher inspections Evidence of staff training in use of fire extinguishers
13. Crisis Management Plan and Drills

    The school develops and maintains a written crisis management plan in which all employees are regularly trained and appropriate drills conducted.

    ArtifactCrisis Management Plan and School Lockdown Plan *
    1. Lockdown and Evacuation Procedures

       The school inspects the campus for possible breaches in security and maintains and instructs a process for the school community in lockdown and evacuation procedures, and reporting incidents to the general public.

       ArtifactWritten plan and logs for emergency drill process
    2. Safety/Emergency Drill Procedures and Log

       The school carries out safety/emergency drills (i.e. fire, tornado, lockdown, bomb threat) for students at all levels, and a log of such drills is maintained; the log contains the date of the drill, the number of students participating, the time required for any evacuation necessary, and any special conditions that occurred.

       ArtifactWritten plan and logs for emergency drill process
    3. Safety Drill Attendance

       The school conducts student attendance at each drill at all grade levels, either after students have evacuated buildings or in individual rooms during lockdown

       ArtifactWritten plan and logs for emergency drill process
    4. Facility Inspection during Drill

       The school inspects at the outset of the drill the entire interior of the school facilities to make certain that no persons are left behind, which adheres to a written plan that is in place to guide the process.

       ArtifactWritten plan and logs for emergency drill process
    5. Emergency Drill Frequency

       The school holds emergency drills with required frequency throughout the year.

       1. Tornado Drills

          Tornado drills are held once each semester.

          ArtifactEvidence of required number of tornado drills
       2. Lockdown Drills

          Lockdown drills are held once each quarter

          ArtifactEvidence of required number of lockdown drills
       3. Fire Drills

          Fire drills are held monthly, with the initial drill held within the first 15 days of the start of the school year, and escape routes are posted in each classroom and school office area;

          ArtifactEvidence of required number of fire drills
14. Transportation Procedures and Requirements

    The school complies with transportation procedures and requirements:

    1. Drivers of School Vehicles

       Every driver of a school vehicle must have a valid driver’s license and be approved according to the school’s established safe driver policy.

       ArtifactEvidence of drivers license requirement for school transportation
    2. School-Operated Vehicles

       All school-operated vehicles are well maintained, inspected every six months, and meet required state standards for safety. The school complies with all state laws regulating school transportation and with the manufacturer’s passenger capacity limits.


       ArtifactEvidence of maintenance and inspection of school operated vehicles
    3. Vehicular Liability Insurance

       Adequate liability insurance is carried on all vehicles, including those contracted and used for student transportation, with a minimum amount of vehicular coverage per occurrence based on the following enrollments:

       • 1–200 students: $2,000,000
       • 201–500 students: $3,000,000
       • 501+ students: $5,000,000
       ArtifactEvidence of adequate vehicular liability insurance based on student enrollment
    4. Transportation Attendance Requirement

       Attendance is taken and recorded before children board a vehicle for transportation on a field trip, athletic event, or other school-sponsored activity, and attendance is again taken upon returning to the school after all students have been safely dismissed from the vehicle.

       ArtifactEvidence of student attendance taken before and after travel