TB Testing Policy - Parent Education Program 

The Parent Education Program requires that all teachers, assistant teachers (including all parents who regularly participate in the classroom), and parent educators provide proof of a current (test must have been completed within the last 2 years), negative TB test before initial participation in the parent education classroom with children.  Parents must provide, as directed by the coop in which they are enrolled, a copy of their test results to the cooperative before they attend the class for the first time. 

Only one TB test is required for adults in the classrooms during the time they are consecutively enrolled with the program, unless the individual is exposed to the tuberculosis disease.  Retesting is required after exposure to a person with the disease or after traveling to a country in which there is a high frequency of this disease.  Consult your health care provider for more specific guidelines.  If parents, teachers, or instructors are absent from the program and then return, they are expected to retest if they do not have results of a negative test taken within the last 2 years. 

All parents are expected to keep a copy of their TB test results, so that they can provide a copy to the cooperative for each class in which they participate.  Ideally everyone takes their forms at the end of the year to transfer to the new class they are joining in the fall, but realistically such a transfer does not always happen, so it is best to keep a copy to avoid the need for retesting. 

WAC 388-150-20

"Article 11) Staff: Each center employee, volunteer, and other person having regular contact with the children in care shall have a tuberculin (TB) skin test, by the Mantoux method, upon employment, unless against medical advice>" 

North Seattle Community College strives to follow the Department of Health and Washington Administrative Codes for Minimum Licensing Requirements. Therefore, according to the WAC listed above, all parents must provide a TB test result prior to working with children or, if registering after class has begun, within two weeks of initially working in the coop.  If a TB test has a positive result, a chest x-ray is required before the parent is allowed to participate in the coop.

      a.  Breast-feeding: parents will abide by the above statement. There are no exemptions.

      b.  Immunizations: Some countries may immunize against TB and therefore people will have a positive TB result.  Written proof of such immunizations or a radiograph result must be provided prior to working in the classroom. Any parent who does not furnish a TB test result, chest x-ray, or a written health care provider's note, will not be allowed to participate in the coop until this responsibility has been fulfilled.

      c.  Any exception to WAC 388-150-20 requires a signed letter from the Primary Health Care Provider with a statement that the Primary Health Provider is aware that this individual will be working closely with young children on a weekly basis. 

Please contact your parent education instructor if there are questions.