Handling Students with Lice

Administrative Letter A140: Head Lice Guidelines

The Washington County School District follows guidelines from the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the CDC, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the National Association of School Nurses (NASN). School is rarely the place where lice are transmitted—the vast majority of cases are spread among friends and family members who play or live together. Lice do not cause disease and are not dangerous. Because "no-nit" policies are medically unnecessary, students with nits (lice eggs) are not excluded from school.

Upon Discovery

If a student is found to have a live head lice infestation, their parents will be notified as soon as possible and no later than the end of the school day. Because there is no medical urgency, the student does not need to be sent home early and can finish the school day, though parents may choose to pick them up early if preferred. The school will provide parents with educational materials on how to eliminate the infestation from the student, family members, and the home.

Class/School Precautions

Classroom-wide screenings are not conducted because they are ineffective, increase social anxiety, and risk violating student confidentiality. However, household members and close playmates may be checked.

• When a case is found, a general notification and educational materials will be sent to the parents of other students in that classroom without identifying the affected student, which would violate FERPA/HIPAA privacy rights.

• Affected classrooms must avoid head-to-head contact activities, and students must not share headphones, helmets, hats, or clothing. Non-washable items will be sealed in plastic bags for two weeks.

• School custodians will thoroughly vacuum classroom floors, furniture, and carpeting.

Return to School

A student may return to school immediately after their first appropriate treatment, which should kill all live lice within 8 to 12 hours. Parents must report to the school when this initial treatment is complete, and the school will check the student upon their return. Students are not excluded for having nits. Parents must follow a daily cleaning routine and administer a follow-up treatment 7 to 10 days later to kill any newly hatched nits, at which point the school will check the student again. Students will be given full opportunity to make up missed schoolwork, but it is the family's responsibility to contact teachers for assignments.

Failure to Comply

If a parent fails to follow through with proper treatment and the student continues to have a live lice infestation, the student will be excluded from school until treatment is completed. If the student does not return to school in a timely manner, the school or school nurse will contact the parent to offer support. If the infestation persists or the student does not return after supportive efforts are provided, the school nurse and principal may involve Child Protective Services/DCFS.