BOARD POLICY 5522

STUDENTS

STUDENT SERVICES/WELFARE

REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENT AND PERSONNEL HEALTH

HEAD LICE

The Governing Board recognizes that head lice infections among students require treatment but do not
pose a risk of transmitting disease. The Superintendent or designee shall encourage early detection and
treatment in a manner that minimizes disruption to the educational program and reduces student absences.

The Superintendent or designee may distribute information to parents/guardians of preschool and
elementary students regarding routine screening, symptoms, accurate diagnosis, and proper treatment
of head lice infestations. The Superintendent or designee also may provide related information to school staff.

School employees shall report all suspected cases of head lice to the school nurse or designee as soon
as possible.

If a student is found with active, adult head lice, he/she shall be allowed to stay in school until the end
of the school day. The parent/guardian of any such student shall be given information about the treatment
of head lice and encouraged to begin treatment of the student immediately and to check all members of the
family. The parent/guardian also shall be informed that the student shall be checked upon return to school
the next day and allowed to remain in school if no active head lice are detected.

Upon the student's return to school, the school nurse or designee shall check the student for active head
lice. If it is determined that the student remains infected with head lice, the school nurse or designee shall
contact the student's parent/guardian to discuss treatment. As needed, he/she may provide additional
resources and/or referral to the local health department, health care providers, or other agencies.

If a student is found consistently infested with head lice, he/she may be referred to a multidisciplinary
team, which may consist of the school nurse, representatives from the local health department and

social services, and other appropriate individuals, to determine the best approach for identifying and
resolving problems contributing to the student's head lice infestations.

When it is determined that one or more students in a class are infested with head lice, the principal or
designee will notify parents/guardians of students in that class and provide them with information about
the detection and treatment of head lice. Staff shall maintain the privacy of students identified as having
head lice.

Legal References: Education Codes 35020, 48211, 48221, 48260, 49450

Revised: July 15, 2014 (Adopted: 9/6/83)