In an effort to help protect well children and staff from unnecessary exposure to contagious or infectious diseases, South Carolina requires that children and staff with certain diseases and conditions stay home from school or childcare while contagious.

If your child feels too sick to go to school or has an illness that can be spread to others, please keep them home from school/childcare and call your health care provider. Consider the following:

• Does your child’s illness prevent comfortably taking part in activities?

• Does your child need more care than the staff can give without affecting the health and safety of other children or staff?

• Could other people get sick from being near your child?

• If your child has an oral temperature above 100.4 please stay home from work and school. Do not medicate with fever reducing medicine and go to school.

• If your child has had more than one episode of vomiting or diarrhea, please keep them home.

Nebulizers at school are discouraged due to the aerosol generating nature of the treatment. Parents, please discuss with your health care provider about switching to an inhaler if appropriate.

Please discuss the importance of hand washing, covering cough/sneezes, social distancing, and how it slows the spread of illnesses with your child.

SC DHEC publishes the School and Childcare Exclusion List annually. The Exclusion List explains how long ill children and staff should stay out of school/work/childcare, and what is needed before the child/student or employee is permitted to return. Please click on link below

South Carolina Code of Laws Section 63-13-20 requires schools to maintain a valid South Carolina Certificate of Immunization for all enrolled children. For more information regarding school/childcare requirements and vaccination updates please click on the link below.

The best protection from illness is prevention. Please do not hesitate to reach out to your school's nurse if you have any questions or concerns. Our goal is to keep your child safe and healthy.

Department Fax
843-899-8383

If your child has a health condition that requires monitoring, medication administration, and/or treatment during the school day, you must schedule a meeting with the school nurse before or at the beginning of each school year. During this meeting, the school nurse, parent/guardian, and, when appropriate, the student's healthcare provider, will collaborate to develop or update an Individualized Healthcare Plan (IHP) and, if indicated, an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) to ensure your child's health and safety while at school.

These plans must be reviewed and updated annually and whenever there is a change in your child's health status, prescribed medications, treatment orders, or emergency care needs. Parents/guardians are responsible for providing current healthcare provider orders, required medications, supplies, and any updated medical information necessary for the safe care of their child during the school day.

Additionally, if your student needs to be placed on medical homebound, please contact BCSD Nursing Services at 843-899-8648 along with your school's nurse.