Garden Grove School Lice Policy

Westminster Schools

The district has a “no lice” policy but children will not be excluded from school if only nits (lice eggs) are found. The policy is as follows:

“The Governing Board 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. The nurse or designee shall examine the student and other students who are siblings of the affected student or members of the same household.

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 be checked by the nurse or designee before returning to class. Once he/she is determined to be free of lice, the student shall be rechecked weekly for up to six weeks.

the next day and shall students. (Education Code 48213)

When two or more students in any class have been identified as having a head lice infestation, all students in the class shall be examined by the end of the same school day if possible. In

consultation with the school nurse, the principal shall also send information in a timely fashion, within reason, about head lice home to all parents/guardians of the students in that class notifying

them that their child has been checked for head lice. Staff shall make every effort to maintain the privacy of students identified as having head lice and excluded from attendance.” Source:  Westminster School Dist.

Fullerton Schools

As with Westminster schools, Fullerton schools allow students with nits to remain in school, but do not permit children with live bugs.

Board Adopted: June 10, 2005 Board Revised: August 25, 2015

“The Governing Board recognizes that head lice infestations among students require treatment but do not pose a risk of transmitting disease. The Superintendent or designee shall encourage early detection and treatment in a manner that minimizes disruption to the educational program, maintains confidentiality, and reduces student absences.

The Superintendent or designee may distribute information to parents/guardians of all Fullerton School District students regarding screening, symptoms, accurate diagnosis, and proper treatment of head lice infestations. The Superintendent or designee also may provide related information to school staff.

School employees shall report all suspected cases of head lice to the school nurse or designee as soon as possible. The school nurse or designee shall examine the student.

If a student is found with active adult head lice, he/she will be excluded from school. The parent/guardian of any such student shall be given information about the treatment of head lice and encouraged to begin treatment of the student immediately and to check all members of the family. The parent/guardian shall also be informed that the student shall be checked upon return to school the next day and allowed to remain in school if no active adult head lice are detected.

Upon the student’s return to school, the school nurse or designee shall check the student for active adult head lice. If it is determined that the student remains infected with active adult head lice, the student will be sent home for continued treatment. As needed, the school nurse or designee may provide additional resources and/or referral to the local health department, health care providers, or other agencies.

If a student is found consistently infested with head lice, he/she may be referred to a multidisciplinary team, which may consist of the school nurse, representatives from the local health department and social services, and other appropriate individuals, to determine the best approach for identifying and resolving problems contributing to the student’s head lice infestations.

Staff shall maintain the privacy of students identified as having head lice.

IMPORTANT

Excluded students may return to school, after they have been properly treated. Child should not miss more than two days of school. Child’s hair must be re-checked in the school office when he/she returns to school.” Source: Fullerton School Dist.

Tustin School District

The district simply states that “Children may return to school when the hair is lice- free and show proof of treatment. Notify the school if your child has head lice.”

Schools in the Orange County area have moved away from “no nit” policies which means that they will allow students to stay in school if only nits are found. The reasoning for this is that nits are not contagious; a case becomes contagious after baby bugs mature. The policy prevents children from missing school when their case is not contagious (the nits only stage); the risk is that students may be in school when the nits hatch and live bugs emerge. If your child has head lice, LiceDoctors can eradicate the case at any stage. Call us day or night at 714-395-5181.