New Head Lice Policy
Port Jervis
revises head lice policy to keep students
from missing school
JUNE 2012
Port Jervis' policy on head lice has been changed to keep
otherwise healthy students from missing school.
(Policy
#7515: Pediculosis)
Based on recommendations from the CDC and the American Academy
of Pediatrics, Port Jervis no longer requires students to be
free of nits (lice eggs) to attend school.
Students with head lice will still be required to stay home
until they are free of active lice. They will be readmitted
to school after successfully completing an examination by the
school nurse.
 The reason for the change to the no-nit policy is two
fold:
•
Nits are generally cemented to
hair shafts
so they cannot be transmitted from person
to person;
•
The burden of
unnecessary student absenteeism
far outweighs the risk of head
lice transmission.
Background
Head lice are most commonly found in children 3-12 years of age.
They do not pose a health hazard, transmit disease, nor serve as
a sign of poor hygiene, child abuse or neglect. Head lice are
transmitted as a result of direct head-to-head contact.
Transmission of head lice in the classroom is uncommon.
Helpful Resources
Please see your child's school nurse if you have questions or
need additional information about head lice.
Click here to view the new district policy.
Accurate and reliable information can also be found on the
National Pediculosis Association’s web site at
www.headlice.org.
Fact Sheet - Answers to frequently asked questions.
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