Spinal Screening Program Guidelines

The Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Spinal Screening Program Guidelines is the teaching manual for DSHS-approved spinal screening certification workshops. This manual provides:

• Overview for planning, conducting, and follow-up of spinal screening in schools
• All state laws and rules pertaining to school spinal screening in Texas
• Forms for school spinal screening
• Forms for spinal screening certification workshops
• Up-to-date information on the diagnosis and treatment of scoliosis and other spinal abnormalities

This manual is provided online as a resource for school personnel who are planning and conducting spinal screenings. Reviewing this manual does not replace the state requirement to complete a DSHS-approved spinal screening certification workshop.

Contact Us

For questions or assistance, call the Spinal Screening Program at 512-776-7420 or email vhssprogram@dshs.texas.gov. 

Program Guidelines Manual

To print out the entire manual in proper page order, open the link to the Spinal Screening Program Guidelines PDF below. 

Spinal Screening Program Guidelines [PDF 2MB]

• Acknowledgments

• Table of Contents

• Introduction

• Screening Schedule and Requirements

• Establishing a Screening Program

• The Spine: An Overview

• Management Options

• Preparing to Conduct Spinal Screenings

• Spinal Screening Procedures

• Recording Results and Making Referrals

• Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements

• Online Reporting System

• References

• Glossary

• Appendix A, B, and C

Appendix A - Forms for School Spinal Screening [PDF 540KB]  

• Sample Pre-Screening Letter to Parents (English)

• Sample Pre-Screening Letter to Parents (Spanish)

• Sample Affidavit of Religious Exemption (English)

• Sample Affidavit of Religious Exemption (Spanish)

• Spinal Screening Worksheet

• Parent Notification and Referral (English)

• Parent Notification and Referral (Spanish)

• Spinal Screening Report Form (M-51)

• Instructions for the Spinal Screening Report Form (M-51)  

Appendix B - Forms for Spinal Screening Certification Workshops [PDF 240KB]

• Frequently Asked Questions

• Workshop Agenda (Sample)

• Practicum Checklist

• Workshop Post-Test

Appendix C - Additional Materials and Resources [PDF 164KB]

• School Spinal Screening Flow Chart 

• Spinal Screening Workshop Evaluation

• Resources

• Texas Administrative Code