Minisink Valley is one of a group of school districts across New York State selected to take part in a student body mass index (BMI) survey by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) for the 2022-23 school year.

Known as the Student Weight Status Category Reporting System (SWSCR), this system collects weight status category data (underweight, healthy weight, overweight or obese, based on BMI-for-age percentile) on children and adolescents attending public school in New York State, outside New York City.

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. As part of a required school health examination, a student is weighed and his/her height is measured. These numbers are used to figure out the student’s BMI. A student’s BMI helps the doctor or nurse know if the student’s weight is in a healthy range or is too high or too low.

The district is required to report to NYSDOH about students’ weight status groups. Only summary information is sent. No names and no information about individual students are sent. However, parents may choose to have their child’s information excluded from this survey report.

The information sent to the New York State Department of Health will help health officials develop programs that make it easier for children to be healthier.  All data reported through the SWSCR continues to be released on Health Data New York.  

If you do not wish to have your child’s weight status group information included as part of the NYSDOH survey, please complete and return this form by Jan. 13, 2023:  BMI Optout Form 

To learn more:  Healthy New York: NYSDOH Student Weight Status Category Reporting (SWSCR)