Too Sick for School?

  • Saint Paul Public Schools takes guidance from Saint Paul Ramsey County Public Health, Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and follows guidelines developed by the epidemiologists at Hennepin County Community Health Department when deciding if a student should be sent home or kept home from school.

    ++IS MY CHILD OKAY TO GO TO SCHOOL?

    • If your child has a fever of 100°F or more, keep them home for 24 hours after their temperature returns to normal without using fever- reducing medication

    • If your child has vomited one or more times, keep them home for 24 hours following the last episode

    • If your child has diarrhea, is uncomfortable due to abdominal cramping, and needs to use the bathroom frequently, keep them home for 24 hours following the last episode

    • If your child has a rash from an unknown or infectious cause, check with a health care provider before sending them to school

    ++STUDENT ABSENCE DUE TO ILLNESS

    It is important to report your child’s absence each day your child misses school. Please call the school and report your child’s:

    • Name
    • Grade
    • Reason for absence
    • If your child has symptoms of, or has been diagnosed with, any communicable diseases (such as influenza, chicken pox, strep throat, COVID-19, etc) please provide that information to the health office staff

     

    ++ILLNESS AT SCHOOL

    • If your child becomes ill at school and needs to go home, the health office staff will contact a parent/guardian. Students are encouraged to call from the health office and not from their personal cell phones

    • It is important for parents/guardians to provide current contact information and update the school with any changes

    • It is important for parents/guardians to provide 1-2 emergency contacts that are will be called in the event parents/guardians cannot be reached

    • If staff are unable to reach parents/guardians and determine that the student must go home, the emergency contacts will then be called

    • Your child will not be allowed to leave with any person who is not listed as an emergency contact unless verbal permission is obtained by a parent/guardian to allow an alternate person to pick up your student

     

    Resources:

    Infectious Diseases in Childcare Settings and Schools Manual