As part of a required school health examination, a student is weighed and his/her height is measured. These numbers are used to determine the student’s body mass index or ‘BMI.’ The BMI helps the doctor or nurse know if the student’s weight is in a healthy range or is too high or too low. Recent changes to the New York State Education Law require that BMI and weight status groups be included as part of the student’s school health examination. We began reporting about our students’ weight status groups to New York State Department of Health in September 2009. Only summary information is sent. No names and no information about individual students are sent. However, you may choose to have your child’s information excluded from this survey report.

The information sent to the Department of Health will help health officials develop programs that make it easier for children to be healthier.

If you do not wish to have your child’s weight status group information included as part of the Health Department’s survey, please notify your child’s building nurse.