Parent/Guardian's guide to 'should I keep my kid home or not'
Parent/Guardian's guide to 'should I keep my kid home or not'
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Please do not be surprised if you give your child tylenol or ibuprofen/other medicine before school and once it wears off, the school is calling because the symptoms returned. This is not recommended as it can put immunocompromised (gets sick very easily) children at risk for serious illness.
Sending your child to school with an illness that falls into these categories allows them to spread it to other students, who, may pass it (or something else) back to your student a couple weeks later. The cycle never ends.
"Exclusion Criteria"
"Exclusion Criteria"
(additional symptoms that warrant your child staying home/will be sent home)
(additional symptoms that warrant your child staying home/will be sent home)
Symptoms that prevent the child from participating comfortably in activities
A need for care that is greater than the staff can provide without compromising the health and safety of other children
An acute (sudden) change in behavior: lethargy, lack of responsiveness, irritability, persistent crying, difficulty breathing, or a quickly spreading rash
Fever with behavior changes or other signs and symptoms in a child older that 2 months (sore throat/rash/vomiting/diarrhea)
AGWSR CSD defines a fever as a temperature at or above 100.3 degrees by any method
Respiratory Illnesses (Influenza A/B, RSV, COVID-19, etc.)
Respiratory Illnesses (Influenza A/B, RSV, COVID-19, etc.)
Stay home from school:
Yes
Must be diagnosed by a provider.
May return:
When fever free for 24-hours with out the use of medication
Additional exclusion criteria (symptoms) must also be resolved for child to return
Pink Eye
Pink Eye
Home from school or leave school early?
No: If the child can leave eye alone
Yes: If unable to leave the eye(s) alone or mattering is occuring
May Return:
Needs to be seen by a provider for medicated drops. Regular drops will not work.
Need to be on drops for 24-hours before returning to school.
Drops can be done at school if more than 2x a day. Medication consent form MUST be completed.
Additional exclusion criteria (symptoms) must also be resolved for child to return
Remember to wash all bedding (pillow cases, sheets, blankets, lovies) to reduce the chances of getting it again
Vomiting/Diarrhea
Vomiting/Diarrhea
Home from school/leave school early?
Yes
May return:
When child is vomit free for 24 hours
Frequent episodes of diarrhea have stopped
If stool was tested and is infectious(C-Diff, Ecoli, etc.) child must have a provider's note to return
Additional exclusion criteria(symptoms) must also be resolved for child to return
Strep
Strep
Home from school?
Yes
May return:
After a full 24-hours of antibiotics have been given
Fever free for 24-hours without the use of medication
Antibiotics (if need more than twice a day) can be given at school. A Medication Consent Form MUST be completed
After antibiotics have been started: change toothbrush, reused cups, wash bedding, stuffies, etc.
Impetigo
Impetigo
Stay home from school:
Yes
Must be diagnosed by a provider.
May return:
After seen by a provider AND 24-hours on medication to treat AND blisteres are covered
Additional exclusion criteria (symptoms) must also be resolved for child to return
Chicken Pox
Chicken Pox
Stay home from school:
Yes
Must be diagnosed by a provider.
May return:
After seen by a provider AND when all blisters are crusted and no oozing is happening (usually 6 days)
Additional exclusion criteria (symptoms) must also be resolved for child to return
Pertussis (whooping cough)
Pertussis (whooping cough)
Stay home from school:
Yes
Must be diagnosed by a provider.
May return:
After 5 days of antibiotics
Additional exclusion criteria (symptoms) must also be resolved for child to return
Other illnesses not listed above
Other illnesses not listed above
The following illnesses need to stay home ONLY if exclusion criteria (first drop down) are present. Your child may return when symptoms have resolved. If no exclusion criteria is present, the child may be in school.
Fifth disease
Hand/foot/mouth (unless child is excessively drooling with mouth sores)
Ringworm (treatment started ASAP, cover if possible)
Molluscum Contagiosum (skin disease similar to warts)
MRSA (wounds should be covered)
Ear infection
Lice
Attendance
Attendance
The new attendance law has changed the way students are counted beyond excused and unexcused. Outlined are the parameters around illness and health related topics only and do not include all of the scenarios.
Excused: Parent/Guardian notified school
Unexcused: Parent/guardian did not notify school
Exempt: Does not count towards absence tally.
Not Exempt: Does count towards absence tally
At 10% Absence: (8 full days/16 half days per semester)
School sends a certified letter to parents, and the County Attorney is notified.
At 15% Absence: (12 full days/24 half days per semester)
A School Engagement Meeting is held with the student, parents/guardians, and school officials to develop an attendance action plan.
At 20% Absence: (12 per semester)
If the attendance prevention plan is violated and absences exceed 20%, parents may face prosecution by the County Attorney.
Planned medical treatment, ongoing appointments, communicable diseases (with an excuse or note from a licensed health provider that includes a return date):
Excused Exempt
Medical appointment, home ill (After 5 consecutive days provider's note required, or if requested by administrator):
Excused Not Exempt
**We understand your children get sick. You do not need to go to the doctor every time your child has a cough or fever for 1-2 days to get a note as this does not automatically put your child as "Exempt"(Excused, yes-but so does a notification from a parent/guardian) for being gone.**
A parent/guardian making reasonable, responsible choices, following the District Handbook and District Policies, to keep their children out of school will rarely get to 8 or more absences a semester. If illnesses are lasting more than 3 days without improvement, then it is reasonable to make an appointment for your child to be seen.
If you have questions please reach out to your building's principle.
Parent/Community Resources
Parent/Community Resources
Parent Resources
Parent Resources
Car seat/Passenger Safety
Lice
Sleep Hygiene
Teen Driving
Donations
Donations
How to donate
Items Health Office needs to support the students in our district
When to go the Health Office
When to go the Health Office
Please have discussions about the right time and reason to go to the Health Office with your child(ren).
New cut/scrape at school that needs more than a band aid from the classroom/recess duty teacher
Can't breath well
Suspected broken bone
Nausea (not nerves), vomiting, diarrhea
Fever
Stung by an insect
New injury at school that is swelling and/or bruising
Take a scheduled medication/complete a prescribed medical treatment
Get a new clothing item because of an accident
Thinking of harming yourself/others
Vision changes
Newly broken tooth
Pain that is stopping you from doing subjects/activities you like (not just the ones you don't like)
Injuries that happened at home and parent/guardians are aware
A small cut/scrape, hangnail, that you can use the classroom 1st aid kit to fix
Injuries/'it hurts' from more than a day ago
Minor injuries at school with no broken skin or bruising/swelling (i.e. my locker door hit my arm and it kind of hurts)
To get a cough drop when you're not coughing or don't have a scratchy throat
Get an ice pack when there is no bruising or swelling from a new injury
Get an ice pack for an old injury that suddenly hurts again because you don't like what's going on in class.
To sleep
Mild cough, runny nose
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