Protocol for Sending Students Home Due to Illness and/or Readmission

West Lafayette Elementary School Health Services

Protocol for Sending Students Home Due to Illness and/or Readmission

This protocol reflects IC 20-8.1-7-8. Additionally, this protocol is to be used in conjunction with Indiana State Department of Health Communicable Disease Reference Guide for School Personnel. According to IC 20-8.1-7-8 Section 8 (a): If a child is ill, has a communicable disease, or is infested with parasites, the School Principal may send the child home with a note to the child’s parent or guardian. The Principal designee for health-related issues is the School Nurse. In the event that the School Nurse is not available, the Principal or Administrator will make necessary decisions. A student may be referred to the school nurse by a staff member, a parent, or per self.

General Principals for Sending a Student Home

 Exclusion from school may be warranted when:

1. The illness impacts the educational process for the student.
2. The illness created or contributes to an unsafe unhealthy educational environment.
3. The illness requires care or observation that cannot be managed at school.

The following symptoms may warrant a student being sent home from school: 

1. Fever greater than or equal to 100 F                   
2. Diarrhea and/or vomiting
3. Rash without a fever
4. Difficulty breathing
5. Uncontrolled cough
6. Pain
7. Drainage from eyes and/or nose                                     

The Nurse will assess the student and contact parent/guardian If needed. The student will be released to the parent/or guardian or emergency contact person provided by the parent/ guardian.

Criteria to determine if a student may be readmitted include:

1. Fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication
2. Free of vomiting and diarrhea for 24 hours and able to tolerate his/her normal diet.
3. If the illness is communicable and requires medication intervention, the student has been on the medication for 24 hours before returning to school.
4. It is apparent to the School Nurse or Administrator that the student is no longer ill, no longer has a communicable disease or is no longer infested with parasites.
5. The student is able to participate in normal school activities without fatigue, pain, headache, fever, or relapse of symptoms.
6. If the physician writes a note verifying the student is no longer ill or that the illness is not communicable through normal school activities, the student may be readmitted.