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Lice

Head lice are small insects that live in people's hair and feed on their blood. Lice glue their eggs, or "nits," to hair so that the nits do not get brushed off. Lice die quickly (within two days) without feeding so they cannot live very long away from your child's head. Nits take six to nine days to hatch, and seven or more days for the lice to become egg-laying adults.
 
How do people get head lice?
People can give head lice to other people when they share combs, hats, clothing, barrettes, helmets, scarves, headphones, bedding, car seats, furniture their hair touches and other personal items.  Children are much more likely to get lice from family members, sleepovers, carpools, sports teams and playmates than from classmates at school.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention Treatment Recommendations

Center for Disease Control and Prevention Treatment Recommendations

Rocklin Unified School District Policy and Procedure

Rocklin Unified School District Policy and Procedure

Rocklin Unified School District follows the guidance written by California Department of Public Health with one exception.  Rocklin Unified School District does not allow any students with live lice to stay on campus. The American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Association of School Nurses, the and Placer County Public Health are all opponents of a no-nit policy.
 
References: 
 
 
 
Rocklin Unified Administrative Regulation 5141.33

Rocklin Unified Administrative Regulation 5141.33

 
The Board of Trustees recognizes that head lice infestations 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, the parent/guardian shall be notified immediately and the student shall not be allowed to stay in school for the remainder 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 or school are infested with head lice, the principal or designee may, at his/her discretion, notify parents/guardians of students in that class or school 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.
 
All Rocklin Unified School District Board Policies are available to the public at:   www.rocklinusd.org/School-Board/Board-Policies