STUDENTS09.213 AP.11
Head Lice Prevention/Control Procedures
Pediculosis, commonly known as “head lice,” continues to be a health problem in schools all over the United States. Although following this procedure may be an inconvenience at times, it is for the protection of all students in the District. Working together will prevent infestation, thus promoting health and preventing absenteeism.
Screening for live head lice may be conducted anytime throughout the year.
Parental consent is not required prior to screening for live head lice.
Students being screened will be handled tactfully and sensitively. Privacy is important so as not to lower self-esteem with guilt, shame, or stigma.
Any appropriately trained personnel—nurses, aides, secretaries, teachers, and/or Principals—may screen for live head lice.
ALLPrincipals will designate staff members no later than April 1 for the following year who will be trained to screen students for live lice and may be called on to screen a student/students at any time.
Any child with observable signs or symptoms will be screened. Playmates closely associated with the student and possibly siblings of the student that attend the same school may be checked for live lice, which are defined by the Center for Disease Control as crawling lice.
In general, school-wide checks are not necessary.
Parents of each student identified as having live lice will be contacted by a school/District representative advising them of the finding and explaining/defining the problem along with information on treatment.
If a parent or representative comes to school, the appearance and location of live lice will be shown to him/her, thus enabling the parent to see what live lice look like for accurately examining the rest of the family.
In most cases, students should not be excluded from school. However, in all instances when personnel identify live lice, they shall confirm with the student and/or parent/guardian that the following have occurred:
- The parent/guardian has combed the student’s hair with an actual lice/nit comb or applied special lice killing shampoo on the same or next day.
- When the student returns to school after treatment, designated school personnel rechecked the student before s/he returned to the classroom. If live lice remained, steps 2 and 3 above were re-established.
Many pediculosis treatment products are available. Parents should choose the product they want to use and follow the directions on the bottle or use as directed by their physician.
The District has a no live lice policy. This means that all live lice must be removed from the child’s scalp and hair prior to returning to school.
Review/Revised:8/11/05