Central Florida parents are outraged at the school lice policies, especially after Local 6 reported Volusia County schools enacted a policy last year that they won't check children for head lice--and didn't notify the parents.

Volusia County stopped checking students for lice because it became too expensive, and so parents wondered if other districts might be in the same boat.

Local 6 reporter Louis Bolden researched the county policies and found Volusia, Marion, and Brevard have similar policies.
When a student in Volusia, Marion and Brevard counties appears to have head lice, the student is sent home with instructions to the parents about how to  treat it. But other parents are not notified.

Orange County said it does the same, but does notify other parents if a large number of students appear to be infected.

Seminole County said if one student is found with lice school officials notify the parents of every student in that child's classroom.

Osceola County does regular checks for head lice at least every other month and is the only district to do so in Central Florida. If they find one student is infected they notify all parents, and check all students.

Parents said they would absolutely want to be notified if a student in their child's classroom has lice.

"I think just so you know so you can be prepared, number one," said Jeanne Bishop, a parent of three. "It's a lot of work on the parents once they do get it. They really have to control it at home so it doesn't spread.

Centra Care doctor Timothy Hendrix said parents should be less concerned with whether school districts notify them about lice and more concerned with checking their kids on a regular basis.

"Take a deep breath and educate your children," Hendrix said.