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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 Principles for Sending a Student Home

Exclusion from school may be warranted when:

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

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

  • Fever greater than or equal to 100 F
  • Diarrhea and/or vomiting
  • Rash without a fever
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Uncontrolled cough
  • Pain
  • 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:

  • Fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication
  • Free of vomiting and diarrhea for 24 hours and able to tolerate his/her normal diet.
  • If the illness is communicable and requires medication intervention, the student has been on the medication for 24 hours before returning to school.
  • 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.
  • The student is able to participate in normal school activities without fatigue, pain, headache, fever, or relapse of symptoms.
  • 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.