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Cambridge Public Schools
Cambridge Schools have a progressive lice policy in keeping with recommendations from the American Association of Pediatrics and the National School Nurses Association. Children with head lice will not be sent home from school.
“Pediculosis (Head Lice): Children need not be excluded or sent home early from school because of head lice. The school nurse will contact parents/guardians of affected children to inform them that their children must be properly treated and may return to school on the day after treatment.
Due to the sensitive nature and confidentiality violation, CPS does not support and does not permit the use of volunteer/parent/guardian lice inspection.”
“From Nurse Ronnette
Head Lice is Nothing but a NUISANCE!
Students diagnosed with live head lice do not need to be sent home. Out of courtesy parent will be called and asked to pick up their children as it can be easily transferred to other children, especially those in the younger classrooms who do not understand personal space.
If a child is thought to have head lice (diagnosed during the school week) letters will be sent home to notify families. Families should then take the time to check their child/ren for head lice.
Children should be treated at home and return to school the next day after appropriate treatment has begun. Nits may persist after treatment, but successful treatment should kill crawling lice.”
Source Cambridge Public School
Brookline Public Schools
While Brookline schools do not have a "no nit" lice policy, children are expected to be treated. Children will be allowed reentry to the school at the discretion of the school nurse.
“SCHOOLS OF BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS HEALTH SERVICES
Pediculosis (Lice) Management Guidelines
Recent research by the Harvard School of Public Health and the American Academy of Pediatrics* advises a change in screening procedures, exclusion and ‘No Nit’ policies in schools. There is no scientific evidence that warrants the exclusion of children with head lice. Periodic head checks by parents, resulting in early detection, treatment and removal of live lice and nits, is the most reliable method for controlling pediculosis.
Nurse’s Role
The school nurse is available to educate parents, teachers and children regarding the detection and treatment of head lice. The nurse will notify families when a case of head lice has occurred in their child’s class. No child will be identified. The nurse will monitor the treatment of an affected child to insure that appropriate and timely treatment has occurred.
Procedure:
1) Children with an active lice infestation will be sent home by the end of the day for treatment before they return to school the next day. They must be checked before reentry by the nurse/designee to ensure that treatment/lice removal has occurred.
2) When a child with untreated head lice is reported to the nurse by a parent, or detected at school, a note requesting that parents check their child’s head will be sent home to each member of the class. No mass screenings will be done at school.
3) Each parent/guardian of each child in the class must check their child before they return to school the next day to make sure their child is free from lice and nits (eggs). If your child has head lice, treat your child with a pediculocidal shampoo, notify the nurse and bring your child to the nurse for reentry clearance. All live lice and most nits should be removed before your child returns to school. The nurse may deny reentry to a child who has not been treated.
4) The nurse may follow -up with periodic checks of individual children who had lice to make sure they have not been reinfested. A nit takes up to 2 weeks to hatch and a louse takes approximately 2 weeks to become an adult egg layer, one month of biweekly head checks is recommended for families who have a case of head lice and at least weekly checks are strongly suggested for all other families.
Please check your children carefully and often. Report findings to your school nurse.”
Source Brookline Public School
Please check with your child's school to confirm the policy as there may be some variation among districts. Call LiceDoctors at 617-517-4197 for help with your problem and to learn more about our Cambridge and Brookline services now! LiceDoctors treatments are fully guaranteed.
