Keeping your child home

It can be hard to know when to send children to school if they tell you that they do not feel well. Usually, the best place for them is in school, but there are some times when keeping them home to rest or call for an appointment with your health care provider is recommended.

Keeping a sick child home helps prevent the spread of illness and protects the health of all students and staff. Please keep your child home and/or contact your child’s doctor if:

• They have a temperature of 100°F or higher. They should be fever-free for 24 hours without medication before returning to school.
• Severe sore throat along with fever and feeling ill for more than 48 hours, or diagnosis of Strep throat infection (must be on antibiotics for 12-24 hrs before returning)
• They've vomited 2 or more times the night before or that morning.
• They have multiple episodes of diarrhea, or diarrhea they can't control.
• Coughing that is moist/productive, chest congestion or thick nasal drainage
• Eyes that are red, swollen and with yellow/green drainage or crusting
• A rash that you cannot identify or honey-crusted sores around the mouth

This list isn't exhaustive and may not cover every situation. School nurses use their clinical judgment to determine if a child should stay home. Looking for guidance on a specific illness? Visit our Common Illnesses & Return-to-School Guide.

Please keep children home for 24 hours after a fever ends or they have completed 12-24 hours of medication if prescribed by your health care provider (follow your doctor’s guidance). If your child has a fever, it is not a good idea to give them medicine like Tylenol or Advil and send them to school. Once the medicine wears off the fever may return and you will be called to come and pick up your child.

If you find your child is frequently asking to stay home from school, if they are falling behind or appear anxious about school, or if there does not appear to be any physical symptoms, contact your school nurse and your health care provider to discuss your concerns.

• Your child will be absent or late due to illness or injury.
• Your child has an injury (broken bone, sprains, etc)
• Your child is diagnosed with a reportable disease (for example: pertussis, elevated lead levels, Lyme disease).
• Your child starts a new medication or has a medication change.
• Your child has been hospitalized or is scheduled to have surgery
• You're changing your child's emergency contact.
• You have any other questions or concerns.