Schools in Queens have abandoned strict no-nit policies and instead will only restrict attendance when live lice are present. Students are to be picked up immediately if live lice are found, but are allowed to return to school once treatment has begun and no live lice are present.
QUEENS AREA SCHOOLS
Management of Head Lice in School
“The policy on lice and nits for all NYC public schools has changed. Effective immediately, students will no longer be excluded if they have nits (lice eggs). Nits are not equivalent to head lice, since nits cannot be transmitted from person to person, it will not result in school exclusion. Head lice, on the other hand, are transmitted as a result of direct head-to-head contact; therefore NYC Public Schools enforce a “no head lice” policy. This policy is endorsed by national organizations such as American Academy of Pediatrics, American Public Health Association, and the National Association of School Nurses.
Details on New Policy for NYC Public Schools
Students with head lice will be excluded when lice are identified. Parents will be notified asked to pick up their child as soon as possible.
Following treatment students will be re-examined upon returning to school and may re-enter if they are found to be lice free.
Students that have been cleared of lice will be re-examined in 14 calendar days and can be excluded once again if they are not lice free.
No school-wide surveillance will be conducted for nits.
Student with nits and no evidence of live head lice will not be excluded from school.”
Source: The Dorothy Bonawit Kole School Lice Policy
No one wants to get the call to come pick up a child with head lice, but LiceDoctors is available to come right away to remove the lice AND nits so your child can return to school the same day or next day. Call 718-559-6983 for treatment today.