Girl misses nearly 3 weeks of school due to Duval schools 'no nit' lice policy

A local fifth-grade student is being kept out of school because of a policy deemed outdated by national medical groups.

Maddie Hunter was sent home from Thomas Jefferson Elementary School early on Nov. 9 for having nits in her hair, but no live lice.

It’s because Duval County Public Schools has a ‘no nit’ policy, excluding any child with head lice or nits in their hair. It's been in effect since 1998.

“They just said it's a school board policy,” said Melissa Hunter, Maddie’s mom. “Their hands are tied, they can't do anything."

Action News Jax found that St. Johns and Clay counties have similar policies.

The process is frustrating for Maddie’s mother, who said her daughter doesn’t have any live lice that would spread to other students.

She’s also tried everything to get rid of the dead nits and casings, from shampoos to fine-tooth combs to using a flat iron.

She brings her daughter to school nearly every day to get checked. If the school finds a nit, they send her back home.

Meanwhile, Maddie continues to miss chorus, drama and most importantly, class time.

“I really need help with reading,” she told Action News Jax. “I've been struggling in reading and I can't do that because of missing so much school.”

This is the scenario some medical groups now want to avoid.

Both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Association of School Nurses say "no nit" policies should be discontinued.

The groups say the nits are unlikely to be transferred successfully to other people and the policy causes unnecessary absences and students to fall behind.

When we reached out to DCPS for comment, a district spokesperson sent us the statement:

"We are aware of the recent recommendations by national health organizations regarding pediculosis (head lice) and are reviewing our current policy – which was developed cooperatively between DCPS and the Florida Department of Health-Duval County –  so that a recommendation for potential revision can be made."

Cox Media Group