Head Lice
Parents have the prime responsibility of assisting in the prevention and management of head lice cases through regular checks of their child’s hair and starting immediate treatment when head lice are detected.
While head lice are a nuisance, they do not spread disease and are not a health issue. Should a case of head lice be brought to the school’s attention, the school nurse will maintain confidentiality at school, verify presence of an active infestation, and bring it to the child’s parent’s attention. Parents, students, and school staff will be educated about head lice identification, treatment, and prevention.
If at all possible, students should not be excluded from school for having head lice as the management of head lice should not disrupt the educational process of the child.
The policy is supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Association of School Nurses, and the Hamilton County Health Department.