Schools in Anne Arundel County have a lenient head lice policy. Each year on average, the district has about 500 cases of lice. The web site acknowledges that head lice are a common problem affecting school age and goes on to say that while lice are a nuisance, they are not a result of poor hygiene. The district allows children with nits to remain in school. The policy is, Anne Arundel County has a No Live Lice Policy in keeping with the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Association of School Nurses. “When students are found to have live lice or nits less than 1/4 inch from the scalp, the parent will be notified…The recommendations are based on studies showing that: Nits are difficult to identify accurately. Children can be misdiagnosed with nits, get treated and miss school unnecessarily. Children with nits further than a 1/4 inch from the scalp are at low risk of reinfection. Head lice, while a nuisance, are not a reason to exclude children from school, interfering with their opportunities to learn and achieve.”
Learn more at Anne Arundel County Health
Please check with your child's school to confirm their policy as there may be some variation among districts. You can always call LiceDoctors at 443-873-2187 for help with your problem and to learn more about our Anne Arundel lice services!