Pediculosis ​(Head Lice) Policy

Strict Re-Admittance Criteria

A child who has been excluded due to head lice may only return to the JCD program once effective treatment has been completed and the following criteria are met:


  1. ​The child's scalp must be entirely free of any live lice.
  2. Fewer than five (5) nits (eggs) may be present in the hair.
  3. Mandatory Check-In: Prior to entering their classroom on their morning of return, the custodial parent/guardian must accompany the child to the office so a designated JCD educator can perform a formal clearance head check.​

JCD recognizes that head lice (pediculosis) can affect anyone and is a common, non-hazardous nuisance in group childcare settings. Head lice do not pose an underlying medical health risk and do not cause systemic illness, but they are highly contagious and require swift, coordinated community action to eliminate.

Treatment Tip: Families hold full responsibility for administering effective, health-approved head lice treatments. Because nits hatch quickly, we strongly recommend that families meticulously remove all nits to eliminate the chance of a frustrating re-infestation.

Proactive Procedures & Responsibilities:

  • Head Lice Checks: JCD staff will conduct localized hair inspections on an as-needed basis whenever a parent reports a case or a child demonstrates physical symptoms (such as persistent scalp scratching).
  • Parent Mandatory Reporting: Custodial parents/guardians are expected to inspect their child's hair regularly at home. Families must immediately notify both JCD Supervisor and the school main office if live lice or nits (eggs) are detected.
  • Temporary Separation Protocol: If live lice or active nits are discovered on a child while they are attending daycare, the family will be contacted immediately. To prevent further classroom transmission while maintaining the child's comfort, they will be separated from their peers and placed in a comfortable, supervised administrative area until a parent arrives to collect them.