I think this is the appropriate time to have a conference with her parents. Sending notes home does not always guarantee the parents see them. Keep the conversation light, not demeaning, and explain how it is in the best interest for the child, as more often than not, kids aren't too receptive of classmates with head lice. This will be a good opportunity to assess the situation, and offer help if needed.

The problem is much higher than your control, you should contact administration and have them contact the parents of the child. It is important that the clinic takes note of the problem, as it could lead to a spread of head lice.

The student simply is not allowed in the classroom when they have lice. Since the parents do not seem to respond, I would look into CPS as this is harming to the student and keeping them from school. I would conference with the parents first to see the cause of the lice and to explain the importance of curing it so that she can return to school. If nothing changes, I would call CPS.

I think it would be a great rule in every school to not allow anybody in class with lice. Once the parents find out they should keep the child home until it is resolved.

Administration should be contacted. Tell them about your efforts to contact the parents and how it is a safety issue for the other students as well as yourself.

This is a problem where I would immediately get the parents involved and that means a face-to-face conference. I would also alert administration and the clinic and see if there can become a policy on a student immediately being taken out of school if they have lice because they would be running the risk of it spreading within the classroom and within the school.

That sounds like a case of neglect. I would tell admin about this and try to figure out what is going on at home. Also it is time to have a conference with the parents.

Meet with school counselor for help!

This makes me wonder if there is an issue at home with a lack of cleanliness of another source. I would document these occurrences each time, and continue speaking to the principal or other administrator to keep them informed. I believe your administrators can guide you from there.

Have a parent teacher conference on the issue and how to solve it together

Unfortunately, lice is not an issue educators can handle directly. So far, you have done the right thing by sending the student to the clinic as well as with notes home. Perhaps the school administration can send out a blanket letter to combat the issue (per your request).

I would try to contact the parent on the phone. I have had a student this year alone miss 30 days of school because of lice. Her mother has not treated the house so her and her sister constantly come to school with it. What the school has now decided is that when her and her sister arrive at school they must first go to the nurse to be checked before they can head to class.

This sound like an appropriate time to contact the parents for a conference and to let them know that their child is missing out on valuable class time because he/ she has lice and needs to stay in the clinic away from the other students.

If you've talked to the parents numerous times and nothings changed, I think you should explain to them one last time that if their child comes to school with lice again they are going to be sent home and ordered not to come back until it's gone or they're going to have to be in the nurses office everyday away from the other students and unable to learn. Ask the parents if the problem is they can't afford it, if they can't provide some options or try to raise the money as a class (ask for donations) or you as the teacher can buy it. I think the generic one at Walmart is like $8. If the problem was money I would buy it probably and send it home with the student and if that didn't work I'd get the principal or guidance counselor involved because you can't allow your other students to get infected with lice.

Worst fear that I have about being a teacher is head lice!

Document this and report it to the social worker and administration. That is borderline child abuse.