School Lice Policies

The Tacoma School District Board of Directors revised the district head lice policy in July 2009 (Policy 3410 – Student Health). Tacoma School District no longer has a “no nit” policy. The policy is stated as: “When a student is suspected of having lice or nits, please refer the student to the nurse or designated employee trained by the nurse to do such checks for a private, personal assessment. Universal precautions are to be used to avoid transmitting the lice to others.

In both of Renton and Burien school districts, students with lice may remain in school for the day, but must be treated at home. Children with nits may attend school.

Bellevue Schools no longer have a “no nit” policy. “Head lice are small insects with six legs usually the size of a sesame seed (the seeds on burger buns). Head lice feed on human blood several times during a 24 hour period. The primary symptom of head lice is scalp itch. This is caused by a reaction to the saliva a head louse deposits as it bites into the host. They live on or very close to the scalp and don’t wander far down the hair shafts for very long. They are best seen in bright light and will move if light is directed to scalp.