Attendance Guidelines

When Should My Child Stay Home?

Keeping students home when they are sick helps them recover and helps protect the health of our school community.

A student should stay home or may be sent home from school if they are experiencing:

• A fever of 100°F or higher
• Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
• Severe abdominal pain
• An unexplained skin rash or eruption

Other symptoms may also be considered when determining whether a student is well enough to remain at school, including:

• Unusual tiredness, decreased activity or a generally unwell appearance
• Irritability
• Sore throat or swollen glands
• Runny nose or cough
• Excessive eye drainage or significant eye discomfort

When Can My Child Return to School?

Students should be well enough to participate comfortably in the school day and meet the following guidelines before returning.

After 24 Hours of Medication

Students may return after receiving at least 24 hours of appropriate medication for:

• Strep throat
• Conjunctivitis
• Infected skin eruptions
• Other conditions requiring antibiotics

Pertussis exception: Students being treated for pertussis must be on antibiotics for five days before returning to school.

Fever & Eye Drainage

Students should be free of the following symptoms for at least 24 hours:

• Fever, without the use of fever-reducing medication
• Eye drainage

Vomiting & Diarrhea

Students should be free of the following symptoms for at least 48 hours:

• Diarrhea
• Vomiting related to a gastrointestinal illness, such as norovirus

Questions About Your Child's Health?

If you're unsure whether your child is ready to return to school, please contact the school for guidance.

Source: DCSD Health Guidelines Manual