Policy 5141.33 - Head Lice (Pediculosis)

Head Lice

The Board of Education believes that the district’s head lice management program should emphasize the correct diagnosis and treatment of head lice in order to minimize disruption of the education process and to reduce the number of student absences resulting from infestation.

School employees shall report all suspected cases of head lice to the school nurse or designee as soon as possible. If a student is found with active, adult head lice, he/she shall be excluded from attendance. The parent/guardian of an excluded student shall receive information about recommended treatment procedures and sources of further information. The student shall be allowed to return to school after treatment and shall be checked by the nurse or designee before returning to class.

When three or more students in any class have been identified as having a head lice infestation, all students in the class shall be examined. In consultation with the school nurse, the principal or designee may send information about head lice home to all parents/guardians of the students in that class.

Staff shall make every effort to maintain the privacy of students identified as having head lice and excluded for treatment.