September 23, 2026

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are writing to inform you about important updates to school health screenings for the 2026-2027 school year, following the passage of Pennsylvania’s new Omnibus Public School Code Bill (Act 20 of 2026). This legislation changes how student height, weight, and Body Mass Index (BMI) measurements are taken, reported, and shared. The state has revised these practices to prioritize student privacy, confidentiality, and mental wellbeing while preventing the overstigmatization of BMI data.

The new rules establish the following guidelines for our school community:

• Strict Confidentiality: The school nurse or a trained healthcare practitioner will continue to collect height and weight measurements to track growth patterns. However, the resulting BMI calculations are now used strictly for state reporting purposes. All data submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Health completely excludes personally identifiable student information.
• No Automatic Distribution: Under the updated law, schools are strictly prohibited from sharing a student's BMI score with the student or their parents unless a parent or guardian explicitly requests its release in writing.
• Parental Opt-Out Right: Parents and guardians now have the formal right to exempt their child from annual school-based height and weight screenings.
• Classroom Restrictions: The calculation of BMI is now expressly banned from academic instruction, including physical education and health classes, to protect student privacy.

How to Proceed

If you wish to view your child's data or opt them out of the screening process, please review the instructions below:

• To Request BMI Results: If you would like to receive a copy of your child's BMI score, you must submit a written request directly to the health office.
• To Opt-Out of Screenings: If you do not want your child to participate in height and weight measurements this school year, parents must notify the school nurse in writing at the specific building in which the student attends school. All written exemptions must be received prior to October 9, 2026.

If you have any questions or would like additional information regarding these statutory changes, please contact the health office directly.

Sincerely,

Mary Sweeney, BSN, RN, CSN

Union School District

Certified School Nurse

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

814-473-3121, Ext. 1124

Attachments:

File	File size	Last modified
Student BMI Updates for 2026.pdf	201 kB	09-23-2026 12:43