If you’re a parent of a school-aged child, chances are you’ve dealt with—or feared—a lice letter coming home. But did you know that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has updated its guidance on how schools handle head lice?

That’s right—students with head lice are no longer required to be sent home from public school, and many parents are surprised (and even frustrated) by this change. In this post, we’ll break down what the AAP recommends, why the policy changed, and what you can do to protect your family.

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👩‍⚕️ What Is the AAP’s Updated Head Lice Policy?

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (2022 guidelines), head lice are not a reason to exclude children from school. The AAP emphasizes that lice are:

• Not dangerous
• Not a health hazard
• Not a sign of poor hygiene

The AAP also states that “no-nit” policies are not effective and often cause more harm than good by keeping healthy children out of school unnecessarily.

📌 Source: American Academy of Pediatrics, Clinical Report (2022)
Read the full report

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🧠 Why the Policy Changed

The change is based on research and public health considerations. Here’s why the AAP made the shift:

• Lice do not spread disease.
• They are typically transmitted only through direct head-to-head contact.
• Missing school over lice can create academic and emotional challenges for students.
• Overzealous “no-nit” policies don’t actually prevent outbreaks.

By allowing children with lice to remain in school, the goal is to minimize disruption while encouraging families to handle treatment responsibly.

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🤔 What This Means for Parents

While this may sound alarming at first, here’s the bottom line: your child may be sitting near someone with lice, and the school isn’t obligated to notify you or send that child home.

That makes prevention and early detection more important than ever. Here’s how you can protect your child:

• Check your child’s scalp regularly (especially behind ears and at the nape of the neck).
• Use preventative products like NitBlock Daily Repellent Spritz.
• Keep hair pulled back in braids, buns, or ponytails.
• Avoid head-to-head contact during play, sleepovers, and sports.

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🛑 Don’t Rely on the School to Catch It

Because lice are no longer considered a medical exclusion issue, schools are not required to conduct lice checks or alert other families. That responsibility now falls to caregivers—which can be overwhelming without support.

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🏡 Trust the Experts: Lice Care Associates Danvers

At Lice Care Associates Danvers, we’ve been helping families across Boston, the North Shore, and Southern New Hampshire navigate lice outbreaks for over a decade.

We offer:

• Expert, pesticide-free lice treatment
• Thorough head checks for the whole family
• Safe, natural prevention products
• Discreet and compassionate care

📞 Call or text 978-907-3245 to schedule an appointment today!

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✅ Key Takeaways for Parents

• Children with lice can now stay in school, per AAP guidance.
• Lice are not dangerous but are highly contagious through hair-to-hair contact.
• Prevention and routine checks at home are key.
• Professional help is available—and it’s more effective (and less stressful) than OTC options.