When to Keep my Child Home From School

Kentwood Public schools follows the following guidelines as well as MDE/MDHHS guidelines for determining when students need to stay home from school.

MDE/MDHHS Guidelines for Managing Communicable Diseases in School

When should my child stay home from school?

When they are too sick - as a general rule, your child should not go to school if they have:

A fever over 100.4°Fahrenheit (F). Your child can return to school after they are 24 hours fever-free without antipyretic medications (medications that reduce fever).
Signs they are unusually tired and weak.
Diarrhea.
Vomiting - must be 24 hours without vomiting before returning to school.
Coughing that disrupts normal activity.
Wheezing or shortness of breath.
Pain from an earache, headache, sore throat, or injury that disrupts their normal activity.
A rash with a fever, or a rash that is painful/itchy where it disrupts their normal activity.

*If you are unsure, please check with your health care provider or the school nurse for guidance.

Your child must also stay home if they have a contagious disease or have symptoms after being exposed. These include:

COVID
Chickenpox
Flu
Strep throat
Pink eye (conjunctivitis)
Measles
Whooping cough

*KPS follows MDHHS guidelines for all exclusion criteria related to communicable disease.

Our number one defense in school is to limit the spread of germs. The best way we can do this is through good handwashing. Please help us reinforce good handwashing techniques to keep your child’s exposure to germs at a minimum.