School Lice Policies

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, there is a legal basis for excluding and readmitting children to school in relation to specified diseases and infectious conditions. Provision "27.71 (11) specifically relates to Pediculosis humanis capitis (head lice) and provides for exclusion of students from school (public, private, parochial, Sunday, or other school or college or preschool) who have been diagnosed by a physician or are suspected of having Pediculosis by the school nurse.

Irvine’s policy deviates substantially and is the strictest one we found. It reads as such: “Any student found to have head lice, detected by a live louse or lice eggs (nits),will be removed from the classroom and excluded from attendance. The parent will receive written instructions on the treatment of head lice and a verification of treatment form that must be signed by the parent before the student can be readmitted.

Brandywine School District Brandywine schools have become more lenient with respect to allowing students to be in school with lice or nits. "The BSD lice management guidelines have been changed to reflect standard practice as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Association of School Nurses, the American School Health Association, the Harvard School of Public Health,and many other policy making organizations.