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Head Lice Policy

Detroit ISD will not exclude otherwise healthy students from school due to Head Lice infestations. “In keeping with the Detroit ISD District's policy of avoiding the unnecessary exclusion of students from school, the district will not exclude otherwise healthy students from school due to Head Lice infestations. To avoid the unnecessary exclusion of students from school, the administration provides the following procedure: Schools will not perform routine school-wide head lice screening. However, should multiple cases be reported, the nurse will identify the population of students most likely to have been exposed and arrange to have that population of students examined.

1.   If the school nurse or teacher discovers head lice or nits on a student, the parent/guardian of that student will be notified, and other parents/guardians with students who reside with the infested student in the classroom will also be notified via written or electronic notice within 48 hours of becoming aware of the fact.

2.   The school nurse will instruct the parent/guardian concerning various shampoos, sprays and other appropriate treatments that can be purchased to eliminate head lice or nits and will also give information concerning necessary procedures to be taken in the home to ensure that the head lice are eliminated.

3.   If the student was infected with live head lice, the student should be treated every 7-10 day until no live bugs or nits are present. Recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the treatment and prevention of headlice will be sent home and discussed with the Parent/Guardian. Education Code 38.031

4.   When a student who had a live head lice infestation comes to school the following day the student will be examined by the school nurse. If live head lice are found at that time, the parent/guardian will again be called and reinstructed concerning treatment. This process will continue until the student is free of head lice.

5.   A student who was identified as having nits but not a live head lice infestation will be re-examined within five (5) calendar days of the initial identification. If this examination reveals nits are still present, the parent/guardian will again be instructed on treatment options. This process will repeat until the student is free of nits.

6.   The school nurse will keep accurate and confidential records of students infected with head lice or nits