District 95 has recently updated the head lice procedure to move to an updated evidence-based practice as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Centers for Disease Control and the Illinois Association of School Nurses. District 95 procedure has been updated as follows:

• Students who have been treated may return to school if no live lice are found. They will be checked by the health staff prior to their return to school to determine whether treatment was effective.
• Classroom screenings are no longer recommended due to privacy concerns and effectiveness, and therefore will no longer be conducted. However, health staff has the discretion to perform classroom checks as needed.
• Parents will be provided lice resource information through the Health Services webpage. Parents are encouraged to be ongoing partners in managing and preventing lice outbreaks by checking their own children regularly.
• Staff will be trained every year on head lice management.
• School health staff will continue to provide individual guidance to parents on identification and treatment.

There are many misconceptions about head lice, which has caused unnecessary anxiety and distress for some families. Here are some common myths about head lice and the real truth about this condition. A more comprehensive Fact sheet will be on the District Health Services webpage.

MYTH: Head lice carry disease.

FACT: Head lice do NOT carry disease. They are annoying but do not cause disease.

MYTH: Lice can hop or fly form one person to another.

FACT: Lice are wingless insects and cannot fly or hop. They move by crawling and are spread most often by direct head-to-head contact with an infected person.

MYTH: School is a common place for lice transmission.

FACT: School is a very rare source of transmission. Much more common are family members, overnight guests, and playmates that spent a large amount of time together.

MYTH: Lice can live a long time.

FACT: Lice live only 1-2 days off the head.

MYTH: Poor hygiene contributes to lice.

FACT: Hygiene makes absolutely no difference.

MYTH: All members of a family should be treated if one person has lice.

FACT: Only the person with lice should be treated, however all family members should be checked.

Preparations are completed for District 95 to continue to monitor student learning upon return from winter break. Here are the assessment dates for the various grade levels:

5th              January 8 - 11                      Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT)

K - HS         January 14 - February 15      ACCESS* for ELLS

2nd - HS      January 14 - February 1        Measures of Academic Progress (MAP)

2nd              February 19 - 22                  Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT)

*        Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State for English Language Learners