B – 036Can a Head Start program temporarily exclude children with head lice?
Yes. 45 CFR 1304.22(b) states: “Grantee and delegate agencies must temporarily exclude children with a short term injury or an acute or short-term contagious illness that cannot be readily accommodated from program participation in center-based activities for group experiences, but only for that generally short term period when keeping the child in care poses a significant risk to the health or safety of the child or in anyone in contact with the child.” Head Start programs should refer to their state licensing laws or local health or education department regulations regarding specific illnesses that require exclusion. A local program’s Health Services Advisory Committee can provide guidance to programs on how to access existing state and/or local laws on this topic, as well as developing local policies in accordance with state or local laws. Requirement 45 CFR 1304.
