Lice Outbreaks Spark Policy Backlash

(From NPR) In response to recent lice outbreaks, parents in states like Massachusetts, Texas, Ohio, and Georgia are urging schools to reinstate “no-nit” policies that send children home at the first sign of lice. While this approach was once standard, many districts now follow “nonexclusion” guidelines that allow students to remain in class with limited physical contact. These policies have been backed for decades by the National Association of School Nurses and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Their 2022 guidance reaffirms earlier recommendations, discouraging routine lice checks due to frequent misidentification, which can lead to stigma.

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