When should I keep my child home?
FEVER
Keep a child home for temperatures over 100 degrees. A child must be fever free without medication for 24 hours before returning to school.
COLDS
Keep a child home that has a runny nose, AND a fever, bad cough, headache, nausea, or is too tired or uncomfortable to function at school. A runny nose with no other symptoms is not necessarily a cause to keep a child at home.
NASAL DISCHARGE/CHRONIC COUGH
Keep a child at home who has a greenish-colored nasal discharge and/or a chronic cough.
DIARRHEA
Keep a child home who has had three or more watery stools in a 24-hour period, especially if the child looks or acts ill or has diarrhea due to medication.
EARS
Keep a child at home who has drainage from the ear and/or ear pain.
EYES
Keep a child home who has thick mucus, pus, or clear liquid draining from the eye. Extreme redness, irritation, itchiness, or pain, eyelid swelling, and/or light sensitivity may also indicate a contagious condition.
LICE
Children must remain at home until they are treated and are free of lice and nits (eggs). Notify the school nurse if your child has lice.
RASH
Keep a child at home who has any skin rash of unknown cause, especially a rash accompanied by fever and itching. See your healthcare provider to confirm the rash is not contagious before returning to school.
SORE THROAT
Keep a child at home who has a sore throat accompanied by fever and/or swollen glands. A child diagnosed with strep throat may return to school after 12 hours of appropriate treatment if they are fever free (a temperature of less than 100F) and feels well enough. Notify the school nurse if your child is diagnosed with strep throat.
VOMITING
Keep a child home for 24 hours who vomits two or more times; if vomiting occurs during the night, keep the child home the following day.
FRACTURES or SURGERY
Keep a child home who has had a fracture or surgery until they have written approval from the health care provider to return to school AND the child no longer required prescription pain medication for pain management.