Head Lice

Head lice are tiny, wingless insects spending their entire life on the human scalp and feeding exclusively on human blood. Once on the scalp, they reproduce quickly, laying eggs (nits) and cause severe itching.

Policy and research from the Harvard School of Epidemiology, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Association of School Nurses all state there is no value to excluding children from school for nits only. Children will only be sent home if live lice are observed.

Prevention

Please check your child's scalp often for nits and live lice. Instruct family members not to share combs, brushes, hats and other personal items. Children may come back to school after being treated for lice. Only nits that are within 1/4" from the scalp must be removed.

For more information, please refer to the Center For Disease Control and Prevention's website.