LICE TIPS

In Prince George's County, students with lice are still sent home, as they are in Washington, Fairfax County and Montgomery County. On the other hand, Arlington County lets children stay in the classroom even if they've got lice.

While each district in the Charlotte, North Carolina area has its own head lice policy, some districts have strict “no nit” policies while other districts allow students to return to school with nits as long as the child has been treated and there are no live bugs remaining in the hair.

The Westchester government web site dispenses information on head lice but does not issue a blanket school head lice policy. Each school district in Westchester and Rockland is responsible for determining its own lice policy.

Schools in Omaha have recently modified their head lice policy; “Head lice can happen to anyone, it is not a sign of having poor health habits or being dirty. The most important fact to remember is that the problem should be quickly treated because delays will only help spread the infestation throughout your family and community.

Ideally, a parent or guardian should pick the child up from school. This practice allows the school nurse to show the parent evidence of the child's infestation.

Alabama State law requires that children be excluded from school for the following reasons: "Children with head lice will be excluded from school until the hair has been treated and ALL of the eggs (nits) have been removed."

Baltimore children can get lice on the school bus. Baltimore County schools dropped their “no nit” policy in 2012 and the policy has been revised as follows: "The Health Department has changed its head lice policy from “No Nit” to “No Live Lice”, based on recommendations from the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the National Association of School Nurses.

Kansas City Head Lice Policies Vary By District Statewide policy in Missouri no longer requires school nurses to check every student for lice and children with nits or lice are not sent home from school.

Several Fairfield County schools have loosened their criteria regarding admission to school. Some schools have a somewhat ambiguous policy, relying heavily on the nurse’s discretion.

The Miami-Dade School Board policy remains as it has been for years and states: “Any student found having head lice should be excluded from school until they are free of lice and have no nits.” According to the Miami-Dade schools' web site, "Recently, there has been a significant rise in the incidence of pediculosis capitis (head lice).