How to Navigate K-12 and Daycare Vaccine Requirements

Summer vacation is not yet over for some children, but school and daycare enrollment has begun for many parents.

Like many parents, I had concerns about the number of vaccines recommended by the federal government and our doctor after my children experienced vaccine reactions. I wanted to become more informed about vaccine requirements and exemptions. Simply put, NVIC has the information parents need!

NVIC provides the public with resources about vaccine requirements and exemptions in educational and daycare settings, student privacy rights, school vaccine clinics, and more. This article is the first in our 2024 series and will address K-12 schools and daycare settings.

State Vaccine Laws – K-12 School and Daycare Settings

Parents must often provide vaccination and vaccine exemption information to complete enrollment, whether their child is entering daycare, public school, or private school. As school and daycare options are considered, it is essential to understand that vaccine requirements and exemption laws vary from state to state and are determined by each state’s legislature.

Additionally, many states do not require students to receive all federally recommended vaccines appearing in the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) childhood schedule. For example, the state of Colorado requires the following vaccines for school entry - hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (chickenpox); however, the CDC recommends several more in addition to those required by Colorado;¹

Educate yourself on how vaccine laws in your state apply to your school or daycare. For example, some states, like Colorado, define “school” in their vaccine laws to include daycare settings and public and private schools, including colleges and universities. Other states allow private educational institutions and daycares to create their own vaccination and exemption policies that often differ from public school policies. Notably, all states provide medical vaccine exemptions, with many offering exemptions for sincerely held personal, conscientious, and religious beliefs. However, exemptions are also subject to how a state may define “school” in their vaccine laws.

Homeschooling on the Rise

In the aftermath of COVID-19’s impact on childhood education, homeschooling has increased, and families choosing to homeschool are more diverse than ever and not confined to the “ideological fringe”.^{2 3 4} Homeschoolers often cite safety, academic performance, religious beliefs, and personalization as drivers for choosing to homeschool.⁵ However, NVIC knows from our supporters that vaccine requirements also influence homeschooling decisions.

Homeschooling laws vary from state to state, and vaccine requirements for homeschooled students may differ from state vaccine laws for public and private schools.

If you are considering homeschooling, educating yourself on your state’s educational requirements and how state vaccine laws impact homeschools is necessary. Fortunately, the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) provides information on state homeschool laws and legal assistance to homeschoolers.⁶

Getting Vaccine Requirement and Exemption Information

NVIC’s state pages are updated throughout the year and provide vaccine requirements and exemption information. Additionally, these pages contain resource links to state vaccine tracking registry policies, your state’s legislature, and state statutes relating to minor consent to vaccination. Below are more NVIC resource links and tips to empower families.

• Information on the difference between a legal vaccine requirement and a recommendation to prevent vaccine bullying and coercion;
• State vaccine requirements and exemption information and laws for daycare and  K-12 settings;
• Get answers about what type of vaccine exemptions exist and information on proof of immunity in place of vaccination;
• TIP - When dealing with a private school or business entity (daycare) that is not required to follow state vaccine laws, obtain the written vaccination policy to prevent bullying and coercion.

Protecting Your Right to Make Voluntary Vaccine Decisions

During the 2023 legislative session, NVIC’s Advocacy Portal analyzed, tracked, and issued positions on 709 vaccine-related bills in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The overwhelming trend of vaccine freedom bills outnumbering restrictive bills over the last few years continues in the 2024 legislative session.

It is up to each of us to protect the ability to make voluntary vaccine decisions for ourselves and our children without coercion and penalty. The trend in favorable legislation is largely due to the informed action taken by individuals and their legislators.

The best way to stay informed about what is happening in your state and protect your vaccine freedom rights is to register for NVIC’s free Advocacy Portal. The portal makes it easy to stay updated on bills, access bill talking points and analysis, and easily reach your legislators with your thoughts and concerns. Take action today to protect your right to make voluntary vaccine decisions.

NVIC also works with legislators to assist in crafting positive legislation, and we appreciate your support in educating your legislators with our information and pointing back to us as a trusted resource.

Stay up to date and sign up for the NVIC Newsletter and The Vaccine Reaction weekly journal newspaper that features breaking news about vaccine science, policy, law and ethics.

Fight censorship and share this information with other families. Support health freedom and make a tax-deductible donation to NVIC today!

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