LICE TIPS

It is up to each school district in the Mid Hudson Valley to determine its own school lice policy. Consistent with the trend seen across the country, increasingly schools are dropping their "no nit" policies and allowing children to return to school with nits as long as the child has been treated and there are no live bugs remaining in the hair.

Let's check what is the policy for getting children into school when they have had head lice? Why can’t children get rid of those eggs?

Students with lice may return to school after treatment if only nits remain in the hair. The district does not have a "no nit" policy. "Head lice, although not an illness or a disease, is very common among children and is spread very easily through head-to-head contact during play, sports, or nap time and when children share things like brushes, combs, hats, and headphones.

According to Iowa Public Schools, the Iowa Dept. of Public Health states that one of the "best preventatives for lice outbreaks is early detection by alert parents.

According to the Texas Department of State Health Services’ (DSHS) web site, each school district can set its only policy regarding head lice. In an area as large as Houston and surrounding communities, there will be some varying criteria once a student has been treated for head lice.

Washoe County Schools More information: This district has a lenient school lice policy. If a student is found to have lice or nits, he or she is expected to be treated but is not sent home from school. "If at any time, a parent informs the school that his or her child has head lice or nits, the school nurse or trained clinical aide will conduct a head check on the student in order to verify the presence of head lice/nits and ensure all policies are followed.