Santa Clara County has a high rate of tuberculosis (TB), which is a serious bacterial infection that can affect different parts of the body, including the lungs, brain, and bones. Children can get infected with TB when they travel or come into contact with infected people. If diagnosed early, TB can be treated and prevented. Students enrolling in school in Santa Clara County will need to undergo TB testing only if their health care provider identifies a risk factor for TB exposure. This change aims to make the process more targeted and efficient. For more details, you can refer to the School Mandate Packet for Health Care Providers and Schools.
School mandate information
The County of Santa Clara Public Health Department Risk Assessment for School Entry form is required for school registration effective June 1, 2014, for all children enrolling in kindergarten or transferring, at any grade level, from outside of the County of Santa Clara.
TB screening requirements for children in child care
Please see Tuberculosis screening for children in childcare fact sheet for more information. This replaces the need to perform TB testing in all children.
TB screening requirements for child care, school staff and volunteers
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Tuberculosis Risk Assessment for Child Care/School Staff and Volunteers satisfies California Education Code, Sections 49406 and 87408.6 and the California Health and Safety Code, Sections 1597.055 and 121525, 121545, and 121555.
California risk assessments
The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening persons at increased risk for LTBI, including those who were born in or lived in countries with increased TB disease prevalence and persons who have lived in high-risk congregate settings (for example, homeless shelters or correctional facilities) in the U.S.
For routine well-child checks, the pediatric TB risk assessment should be used. For additional risk assessments, visit our programs page.
