> Should You Send them to School?
Frequently asked questions...
Q. Can my child start school or report to class if he/she is missing some state required vaccines and we do not have a current exemption or waiver?
A. No. The School Nurse will discuss with you what vaccines will be needed and be able to provide area resources to vaccination clinics if needed. For a list of minimum immunizations required for your child to attend school, please see the DSHS Minimum State Vaccine Requirements for Students Grades K-12
Q. Why did I receive a call out message from my school regarding a case of head lice on my child’s Elementary campus?
A. A school nurse or administrator who discovers or becomes aware that a child enrolled in a District elementary school has lice shall provide written or electronic notice to all parents of students in the same grade level within 5 days.
Q. Is there anywhere I can get free or low cost eye exams for my child if we do not have insurance?
A. Often times the University of Houston Low Vision Clinic is able to help families out with financial assistance for eye exams and glasses. Contact your School Nurse for more information on program like See to Succeed and resources for vision assistance.
Q. Does the School Nurse have medication like Tylenol or Advil that they can administer to my child when they do not feel good and send them back to class?
A. Unfortunately our School Nurses are not able to administer non-prescription medications to your child without the parent’s signed consent and the parent providing the medication. Further, if you child is unwell, running a fever, or has other symptoms of a contagious illness, the student should be at home resting and recovering.
Q. Can the School Nurse check my child’s class for head lice?
A. Head lice is common among school-aged children, does not cause disease and is not a public health hazard. Head lice are most commonly spread by direct head-to-head contact, and are proven to have low contagion in classrooms (American Academy of Pediatrics). Lice do not fly, and their specially adapted feet make jumping impossible and holding on to smooth surfaces like plastic or metal (i.e. helmets or headphones) very difficult. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the potential spread due to contact with an infested person’s clothing or other personal items (such as hats, scarves, coats, combs, brushes or towels) is very uncommon, and hygiene/cleanliness in the home or school has nothing to do with getting head lice.
Q. My child was sent home by the School Nurse for fever/vomiting/diarrhea. When can they return to school?
A. Pasadena ISD follows the Texas Department of State Health Services Communicable Disease Exclusionary chart for daycares and schools. Your child may return after 24 hours of being fever free without the use of a fever reducing medication and vomiting or diarrhea free for 24 hours without the use of diarrhea suppressing medications. (Vomiting is two or more times in a 24-hour period. Diarrhea is three or more episodes of loose stools in a 24-hour period.)