- Springfield Public Schools
- Too Sick for School?
When to Keep Your Student Home
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There's no question that we want your kids in school as much as possible. However, there are times staying home is necessary.
A fever higher than 100.4 Deg. F is one sign of illness. A fever higher than 103 is usually time to call the doctor.
Click on a symptom below that would keep your child home and find out when it's ok to send them back.
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Major health event: like an illness of 2 or more weeks or a hospital stay
The student may return to school with written instructions from a doctor and parent regarding medication or special health needs is provided to the district nurse.
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Student's health condition requires more care than school staff can safely provide
The student may return to school with written consent from a doctor to the district nurse, and measures are in place for the student's safety.
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Cough: New cough illness, or new shortness of breath, or new loss of taste or smell
A student may return to school when either the cough has resolved or it is intermittent and controllable. If diagnosed with pertussis (whooping cough), the student must take 5 days of prescribed antibiotics before returning.
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Diarrhea: 3 loose or watery stools in one day or not able to control bowel movements
The student may return to school when symptom-free for 48 hours or with orders from a doctor to the school nurse.
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Fever greater than 100.4 degrees (orally) or chills
The student may return to school when they are fever-free for 24 hours without taking fever-reducing medicine.
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Skin rash or open sores
The student may return to school when the student is symptom-free, which means the rash is gone or the sores are dry or can be completely covered by a bandage, or the rash disappears, or with written orders from a doctor to the school nurse.
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Headache with stiff neck or with fever
The student may return to school when symptom-free or with written consent from a doctor to the district nurse. Follow fever guidance if fever is present.
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Strep throat diagnosed by health care provider
Student can return to school after having been on antibiotics for 24 hours and have written consent from doctor to district nurse. If no antibiotic is given, call the school nurse before sending student to school.
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Acting different without reason: unusually sleepy, grumpy, or confused
The student may return to school when symptom-free, which means a return to normal behavior or with written consent from doctor to district nurse.
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Vomiting: one or more episode that is unexplained
The student may return to school when they are symptom-free for 48 hours or with orders from a doctor to the school nurse.
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Jaundice: new yellow color in eyes or skin
The student may return to school with written consent from doctor to district nurse.
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Red eyes with eye discharge: yellow or brown from the eyes
The student may return to school when symptom-free, which means redness and discharge are gone or with written orders from a doctor to the school nurse.
