QISD Head Lice Policy

Head lice is very common among children. Although not an illness or a disease, head lice spread through head-to-head contact during play, sports, nap time, and when children share things like brushes, combs, hats, and  headphones.

 

If careful observation indicates that a student has head lice, the school nurse will contact the student’s parent to discuss a treatment plan using an FDA-approved medicated shampoo or cream rinse that may be purchased from any drug or grocery store. After the student undergoes one treatment, the parent should contact the school nurse to discuss the treatment used. The nurse can also offer additional recommendations, including subsequent treatments, how best to get rid of lice, and how to prevent lice from returning.

The district will provide notice to parents of elementary school students in an affected classroom without identifying the student with lice.

● The hair of a student who is suspected of having head lice shall be examined by the school nurse or someone trained to perform the procedure.
● Parent permission is not needed to examine a student for possible head lice.
● The individual examining the initial case of head lice shall be responsible for notifying the school nurse assigned to the building where siblings are in attendance.
● The school nurse or designee shall examine members of the family in attendance at each assigned building upon receipt of notification that a sibling has evidence of head lice.
● Any school personnel suspecting students with head lice based on symptoms of persistent itching, picking lice out of their hair, or if staff sees the lice crawling in the hair and/or the student requests the nurse check for lice shall be referred to the school nurse or designee for an examination.
● The parent/guardian will be notified by the school nurse that their child must be picked up from school due to the presence of lice. Students with head lice are removed from the classroom until parent/guardian or designated adult can pick up the student(s). Students with lice CANNOT ride the bus home from school.
● The parent/guardian shall be provided written notification of the presence of lice with simple instructions for treatment and removal of lice and nits.
● After treatment is completed, the parent MUST bring the student to school and be present for the examination by the nurse. Students CANNOT RIDE THE BUS TO SCHOOL until cleared by the school nurse.
● Unnecessary and excessive absences from school will be reported to the campus principal and/or truancy officer.
● Between 7-10 day after the initial treatment, the student must be retreated.
● Daily inspection/nit combing should be done by the parent/guardian for two weeks after an infestation.
● Periodic head lice inspection is recommended to be done by the parent/guardian throughout the school year.
● The parent/guardian of each child assigned to the same classroom as the child with lice at the elementary campuses will receive notification that includes treatment and prevention of lice while maintaining confidentiality of the student with lice.

● First time occurrence should not exceed 2 days
● All other occurrences should not exceed 24 hours

More information on head lice is available on the DSHS website

Managing Head Lice in School Settings and at Home

and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website About Head Lice