Agency # 005.15
ADE 302-1
DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION RULES
GOVERNING IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS IN ARKANSAS PUBLIC
SCHOOLS
Effective Date: July 6, 2020
1.0 PURPOSE
1.01 The purpose of these rules is to establish the requirements and procedures for
governing grades Kindergarten through Twelve (K-12) immunization
requirements in Arkansas Public Schools.
2.0 REGULATORY AUTHORITY
2.01 The Rules are duly adopted and promulgated pursuant to the State Board of
Education's authority under Ark. Code Ann. §§ 6-11-105, 6-18-702, and 25-15-
201 et seq.
3.0 REQUIREMENTS
3.01 Except as otherwise provided in these rules, no child shall be admitted to a public
school of this state who has not been immunized against the following, as
evidenced by an immunization record from a licensed physician or a public health
department (See Table I):
3.01.1 Poliomyelitis;
3.01.2 Diphtheria;
3.01.3 Tetanus;
3.01.4 Pertussis;
3.01.5 Red (rubeola) measles;
3.01.6 Rubella;
3.01.7 Mumps;
3.01.8 Hepatitis B;
3.01.9 Hepatitis A;
3.01.10 Meningococcal disease; and
3.01.11 Varicella (chickenpox).
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3.02 The requirements for entry into school are:
3.02.1 For students entering into Kindergarten:
3.02.1.1 At least four doses of the following vaccines:
3.02.1.1.1 Diphtheria/Tetanus/Acellular Pertussis (DTaP);
3.02.1.1.2 Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis (DTP); or
3.02.1.1.3 Diphtheria/Tetanus (DT pediatric).
3.02.1.2 At least three doses of Polio vaccine;
3.02.1.3 Three doses of Hepatitis B vaccine;
3.02.1.4 Two doses of Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR) vaccine;
3.02.1.4.1 If a student received two doses of measles, one dose
of mumps, and one dose of rubella prior to January
1, 2010, the doses will be accepted as compliant
with Section 3.02.1.4
3.02.1.5 Two doses of Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine; and
3.02.1.5.1 A history of disease may be accepted in lieu of
receiving the Varicella vaccine.
3.02.1.5.2 The history of disease must be provided by a
medical doctor (MD), advanced practice nurse
(APN), doctor of osteopathy (DO), or physician
assistant (PA).
3.02.1.5.3 No student, parent, or guardian history of varicella
disease will be accepted (See Table I).
3.02.1.6 One dose of Hepatitis A vaccine.
3.02.2 For students entering into grades One through Twelve (1-12):
3.02.2.1 No fewer than three doses of:
3.02.2.1.1 Diphtheria/Tetanus/Acellular Pertussis (DTaP);
3.02.1.1.2 Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis (DTP);
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ADE 302-3
3.02.1.1.3 Diphtheria/Tetanus (DT pediatric);
3.02.1.1.4 Tetanus/Diphtheria (Td-adult); or
3.02.1.1.5 Tetanus/Diphtheria/Acellular Pertussis (Tdap).
3.02.2.2 One dose of Tetanus/Diphtheria/Acellular Pertussis (Tdap)
for students who are eleven (11) years old as of September
1, and for students older than eleven (11) years if the
student has not received the dose of Tdap at age eleven.
3.02.2.2.1 If a student is unvaccinated and age seven (7) or
older, the student must receive one dose of
Tetanus/Diphtheria/Acellular Pertussis
(Tdap) and two doses of Tetanus/Diphtheria (Td-
adult).
3.02.2.2.2 Students who cannot document prior vaccination
must be vaccinated as stated in Section 3.02.2.2.1.
3.02.2.3 At least three doses of Polio vaccine, with the final dose
received after 4 years of age;
3.02.2.4 Two doses of Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR) vaccine;
3.02.2.4.1 If a student has previously received two doses of
measles, one dose of mumps and one dose of
rubella before January 1, 2010, the doses will be
accepted as compliant to immunization
requirements and 2 MMRs are not required.
3.02.2.5 Two doses of Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine;
3.02.2.5.1 A documented history of disease may be accepted
in lieu of receiving the Varicella vaccine.
3.02.2.5.2 The history of disease must be provided by a
medical doctor (MD), advanced practice nurse
(APN), doctor of osteopathy (DO), or physician
assistant (PA).
3.02.2.5.3 No student, parent, or guardian history of varicella
disease will be accepted (See Table I).
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ADE 302-4
3.02.2.6 No fewer than two doses of Hepatitis B vaccine;
3.02.2.7 Meningococcal vaccine;
3.02.2.7.1 Each student must have one dose to enroll in
Seventh Grade.
3.02.2.7.2 Each student age sixteen (16) on September 1 must
receive a second dose, unless the first dose was
administered at age sixteen (16) or older.
3.02.2.7.2.1 If the first vaccine is administered at age
sixteen (16) or older, no second dose is
required.
3.02.2.8 Each student must receive at least one dose of Hepatitis A
to enroll in First Grade.
3.03 If a student has not met the immunization requirements for enrolling in a public
school, the student should be referred to a medical authority, such as a private
doctor or the health department, for immunization or consultation.
3.04 A school may temporarily admit a student if:
3.04.1 The student is in the process of receiving the needed doses of the required
vaccines; or
3.04.1.1 If a student is admitted and is in the process of completing
the required minimum immunizations, the school shall
require the student to complete the required doses on
schedule.
3.04.1.2 The school shall keep a written statement from a medical
professional verifying that the student is in the process of
completing the required minimum immunizations and
stating a date when the student must receive the next
immunization.
3.04.1.3 For purposes of these Rules, "in process" means the student
has received at least one dose of the required
immunizations and is waiting the minimum time interval to
receive the additional doses.
3.04.2 The student has applied for an exemption for the vaccines the student has
not received within thirty (30) calendar days after the child's admission, or
by October 1 for Tdap and Meningococcal at age eleven and sixteen.
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3.05 If the student does not provide documentation under Section 3.04.1.2, or
show proof that the student has received an exemption from the
immunization requirements, the student must be excluded from the school
until the documentation is provided.
4.0 DOCUMENTATION FOR IMMUNIZATION OR PROOF OF IMMUNITY
4.01 The following documentation of immunizations is required:
4.01.1 A copy of the original source document or a copy from the immunization
provider's medical record shall be placed in the student's permanent
record.
4.01.2.1 A school shall only accept a record provided by a licensed
physician, the health department, a military service, or an
official record from another Arkansas educational entity.
4.01.2.1.1 The record must state the vaccine type and the dates
of vaccine administration.
4.01.2.1.2 Terms such as "up-to-date", "complete", "adequate",
or other similar terms shall not be accepted as proof
of immunization.
4.01.2.2 The immunization record printed off of the statewide
immunization registry with the Official Seal of the State of
Arkansas is an approved immunization record.
4.02 The following documentation for proof of immunity is required:
4.02.1 Serologic testing shall only be accepted as proof of immunity for the
following:
4.02.1.1 Hepatitis B virus;
4.02.1.2 Measles;
4.02.1.3 Mumps;
4.02.1.4 Rubella; and
4.02.1.5 Varicella (chickenpox).
4.02.2 Any individual who has immunity to any of the diseases listed in
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Section 4.02.1, as documented by appropriate serological testing, shall not
be required to have the vaccine for that disease.
4.02.3 The student, parent, or guardian shall submit a copy of the serological test
to the Arkansas Department of Health, Immunization Section, along with a
letter requesting that the serological test be accepted as proof of immunity
in lieu of receiving vaccine for the disease indicated on the serological
test.
4.02.3.1 After review by the Medical Director, Immunization
Section, a letter indicating approval or denial of the proof
of immunity is sent to the individual, parent, or guardian
and it is that person's responsibility to inform the school of
the approval or denial.
4.02.3.2 If the proof of immunity is approved, no annual approval is
required.
4.02.3.3 If the proof of immunity is approved, the school shall
maintain a copy of the approval letter in the student's
permanent record.
4.02.3.4 If the proof of immunity is denied, the student must receive
the required immunization or request an exemption from
the Arkansas Department of Health.
4.03 An individual who has lost his/her immunization records or whose serology test
results are unavailable shall be properly immunized for those diseases or will be
required to show proof that they have applied for an exemption for those vaccines
he/she has not received.
4.04 Each public school shall maintain a list of individuals not appropriately
immunized and a list of individuals with medical, religious or philosophical
exemptions.
4.05 Immunization records may be stored on a computer database, such as the
Arkansas Public School Computer Network (APSCN).
5.0 EXEMPTIONS
5.01 General Requirements
5.01.1 Exemptions shall be granted only by the Arkansas Department of Health.
5.01.2 Individuals shall complete an annual application for medical, religious,
and philosophical exemptions.
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ADE 302-7
5.01.3 A notarized statement by the individual requesting the exemption must
accompany the application.
5.01.4 All individuals requesting an exemption must complete an educational
component developed by the Department of Health that includes
information on the risks and benefits of vaccinations.
5.01.5 All individuals must sign an “informed consent” form provided by the
Department of Health that includes:
5.01.5.1 A statement of refusal to vaccinate;
5.01.5.2 A statement of understanding that at the discretion of the
Department of Health the non-immunized child or
individual may be removed from the applicable facility, for
no fewer than twenty-one (21) days, during an outbreak if
the child or individual is not fully vaccinated; and
5.01.5.3 A statement of understanding that the child or individual
shall not return to the applicable facility until the outbreak
has been resolved and the Department of Health approves
the return.
5.02 Medical Exemptions
5.02.1 Only a letter issued by the Medical Director, Immunization Section of the
Arkansas Department of Health, stating the vaccine(s) or vaccines for
which a child/student is exempt is to be accepted as a valid medical
exemption by the school.
5.02.2 Statements from private physicians shall not be accepted by the school as
proof of a medical exemption unless accompanied by a letter issued by the
Medical Director, Immunization Section of the Arkansas Department of
Health.
5.02.3 In addition to the general requirements of Section 5.01 of these Rules,
individuals seeking a medical exemption must submit the Immunization
Section's standard form for medical exemptions.
5.02.3.1 This form is available from the Immunization Section upon
request.
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5.03 Religious Exemptions
5.03.1 In addition to the general requirements found in Section 5.01 of these
Rules, individuals seeking a religious exemption must submit the
Immunization Section’s standard form for religious exemptions.
5.03.1.1 This form is available from the Immunization Section upon
request.
5.04 Philosophical Exemptions
5.04.1 In addition to the general requirements found in Section 5.01 of these
Rules, individuals seeking a philosophical exemption must submit the
Immunization Section’s standard form for philosophical exemptions.
5.04.1.1 This form is available from the Immunization Section upon
request.
6.0 EXCLUSION FROM SCHOOL
6.01 Each school must maintain an accurate and current list of all students who have
obtained an exemption from the vaccinations requirements and who are in the
process of obtaining the vaccination requirements.
6.02 If the Department of Health determines that a possibility of disease transmission
exists, individuals who have an exemption or who are in the process of obtaining
the vaccinations will be excluded from the school.
6.02.1 Students who have had the disease as verified by appropriate serological
testing will not be excluded from the school.
6.02.2 Students who are excluded from school under Section 6.02 shall not return
to school until the possibility of disease transmission has been controlled
and the Department of Health approves the return.
6.02.3 Students who are excluded from school under Section 6.02 shall not be
dismissed or dropped from the attendance records of the school or school
district in accordance with Ark. Code Ann. § 6-18-213(f).
6.02.4 Absences accrued due to exclusion under Section 6.02 shall be counted as
excused or unexcused absences in accordance with the school's attendance
policy.
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ADE 302-9
7.0 REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
7.01 In order to identify areas where additional emphasis is needed and to measure
levels of immunization compliance, the Arkansas Department of Health will
conduct annual assessments in schools.
7.01.1 Public schools are required to cooperate in completing these surveys and
audits.
7.02 Each public school shall create and maintain a report that provides information
regarding the:
7.02.1 Number and percentage of students within the public school who have
been granted from the Department of Health an exemption from the
requirement to obtain one (1) or more vaccinations.
7.02.2 The number and percentage of students within the public school who
have:
7.02.2.1 Failed to provide to the public school proof of the
vaccinations required; and
7.02.2.2 Not obtained an exemption from the Department of Health.
7.03 The report required under Section 7.02 must be updated by December 1 each year
and be posted and available to the public online.
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ADE 302-12
TABLE I
KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE TWELVE IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS*
Vaccine ►
--------------
Grade ▼
Diphtheria,
Tetanus,
Pertussis
(DTP/DT/T
d/DTaP/Td
ap)
Polio
(OPV – Oral
or
IPV –
Inactivated)
MMR*****
(Measles,
Mumps, and
Rubella)
Meningococcal
(MCV4)
Varicella
Hepatitis A
Kindergarten
4 doses
(with 1 dose
on or after
4
th
birthday)
3 doses
(with 1 dose on
or after 4
th
birthday) with a
minimum
interval of 6
months between
the 2
nd
and 3
rd
dose
OR
4 doses with 1
dose on or after
4
th
birthday and
a minimum
interval of 6
months between
the 3
rd
and 4
th
dose.
.
2 doses
(with dose 1 on
or after 1
st
birthday and
dose 2 at least 28
days after dose
1)
None
2 doses
(with dose 1 on or
after 1
st
birthday and
dose 2 at least 28 days
after dose 1)
******A medical
professional history of
disease will be
accepted in lieu of
vaccine.
1 dose on or
after 1
st
birthday
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Grades 1 –
12
4 doses
(with 1 dose
on or after
4
th
birthday)
AND
1 dose of
Tdap for
ages 11
years (as of
September
1
st
each
year) and
older
OR
3 doses of
Tdap/Td
******* for
persons 7
years of age
or older
who are not
fully
vaccinated
(including
persons who
cannot
document
prior
vaccination)
3 doses
(with 1 dose on
or after 4
th
birthday with a
minimum
interval of 6
months between
the 2
nd
and 3
rd
dose )
OR
4 doses with 1
dose on or after
4
th
birthday and
a minimum
interval of 6
months between
the 3
rd
and 4
th
dose.
2 doses
(with dose 1 on
or after 1
st
birthday and
dose 2 at least 28
days after dose
1)
Second dose at
age 16 years (as
of September 1
st
each year) with
a minimum
interval of 8
weeks since 1
st
dose
OR
1 dose if not
vaccinated prior
to age 16 years
(If first dose is
administered at
age 16 years or
older, no second
dose is
required.)
2 doses
(with dose 1 on or
after 1
st
birthday and
dose 2 at least 28 days
after dose 1)
OR
******A medical
professional history of
disease may be
accepted in lieu of
receiving vaccine.
Grade 1 only:
1 dose on or
after 1
st
birthday
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ADE 302-14
Grade 7
4 doses
(with 1 dose
on or after
4
th
birthday)
and
1 dose of
Tdap****
OR
3 doses of
Tdap/Td***
**** for
persons 7
years of age
or older
who are not
fully
immunized
(including
persons who
cannot
document
prior
vaccination)
3 doses
(with 1 dose on
or after 4
th
birthday with a
minimum
interval of 6
months between
the 2
nd
and 3
rd
dose)
OR
4 doses with 1
dose on or after
4
th
birthday and
a minimum
interval of 6
months between
the 3
rd
and 4
th
dose.
2 doses
(with dose 1 on
or after 1
st
birthday and
dose 2 at least 28
days after dose
1)
1 dose
2 doses
(with dose 1 on or
after 1
st
birthday and
dose 2 at least 28 days
after dose 1)
OR
******A medical
professional history of
disease may be
accepted in lieu of
receiving vaccine.
NONE
*Doses of vaccine required for school entry may be less than the number of doses required for age-appropriate immunization.
**An alternative two-dose hepatitis B schedule for 11-15 year-old children may be substituted for the three-dose schedule. Only a
FDA-approved alternative regimen vaccine for the two-dose series may be used to meet this requirement. If you are unsure if a
Agency # 005.15
ADE 302-15
particular child’s two-dose schedule is acceptable, please contact the Immunization Section for assistance at 501-661-2169.
*** 3
rd
dose of hepatitis B should be given at least 8 weeks after the 2
nd
dose, at least 16 weeks after the 1
st
dose, and it should not be
administered before the child is 24 weeks (168 days) of age. (All 3
rd
doses of hepatitis B vaccine given earlier than 6 months of age
before 6/21/96 are valid doses and should be counted as valid until 6/21/2014.)
**** Tdap vaccine can be administered regardless of the interval since the last tetanus and diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccine.
***** Exception: If a student has previously received two doses of measles, one dose of mumps and one dose of rubella before
January 1, 2010, the doses will be accepted as compliant to immunization requirements and 2 MMRs are not required.
****** A medical professional is a medical doctor (MD), advanced practice nurse (APN), doctor of osteopathy (DO), or physician
assistant (PA). No self or parental history of disease will be accepted.
******* For unvaccinated persons 7 years of age and older (including persons who cannot document prior vaccination), the primary
series is 3 doses. The first two doses should be separated by at least 4 weeks, and the third dose at least 6 months after the second.
One of these doses (preferably the first) should be administered as Tdap and the remaining two doses administered as Td.
Vaccine doses administered up to 4 days before the minimum interval for age can be counted as valid for doses already administered.
Exception: the minimum interval between doses of live vaccines (such as MMR and Varicella) must be 28 days.
If the child does not meet the immunization requirements for entering school, the school shall refer the child to a medical authority
(private doctor or health department) for immunization or consultation for when the immunization is due.