School Lice Policies

The Fort Myers area retains a “no nit” policy. Lee County Schools, in which Fort Myers is located, retains a “no nit” policy. Under this policy, students are not allowed to return to school until all nits or lice are removed from the student’s hair. The policy advocates that the checks be done “discreetly so that a student and/or parent is not embarrassed or otherwise victimized.” Lee County’s policy also states that the entire class should be checked when a student has nits or lice.

Department of Education and the Kentucky School Board Association now support recommendations that schools discontinue "no-nits" policies.

The New Jersey Department of Health advocates that children with nits should be allowed to remain in school and that “no nit” policies should be discouraged. Despite this, some districts in New Jersey continue to maintain “no nit” policies in an effort to discourage the spread of head lice within the school.