Parental Rights & Options (SB 12)

Parental Consent (SB12 FAQs)

During the 89th Texas Legislative Session, lawmakers passed Senate Bill 12, which requires schools to get annual parental consent before providing routine physical or mental health services. This includes things like first aid, short-term counseling, or vision and hearing screenings.

To complete the consent form in Skyward:

Log into your Skyward Family Access account
Find the SB12 Consent Form
Indicate whether or not you consent.

All parents should review the TEA "Parental Rights and Options Information".
SB 12 Frequently Asked Questions from TEA.
Draft Rule Text to Provide Guidance for Senate Bill (SB) 12 and the Texas Education Agency’s (TEAs) adopted procedure for Texas Education Code (TEC), §26.0083:

Frequently Asked Questions

Why am I receiving this consent form through Skyward?

Who provides these services in Hitchcock ISD?

How do I give or deny my consent to health care services, mental health services, and participation in clubs/activities?

If I deny consent, what happens in an emergency?

Can I revoke my consent at a later date?

Where do I find the new requirements established by TEC, 26.0083, in relation to reinforcing parental rights around a student’s health?

Where do I find the changes to TEC, §26.009, regarding parental consent that would be required prior to a child’s participation in certain activities?

Does prior parental consent have to be provided for first aid?

TEC, §26.0083(g), requires notification to a parent of each health-related service available at the campus the child attends. The notice requires a statement that the parent has a right to withhold consent for or decline a health-related service, but it does not require prior active consent of a parent. Therefore, first aid as a health-related service should be provided unless a parent has specifically notified the district of their choice to decline this service. Once a parent has been initially notified that first aid is a health-related service offered as necessary by the district and the district does not receive specific notice of the desire to opt their child out of the service, additional notifications to a parent prior to administering first aid are not necessary.

Can our staff provide general caretaking (e.g., offering a change of clothing if necessary because of illness, assisting with cleaning up spills or other accidents, feeling a child’s forehead without an active parental consent on file?

Can our staff provide general caretaking (e.g., offering a change of clothing if necessary because of illness, assisting with cleaning up spills or other accidents, feeling a child’s forehead, checking for swollen throat, applying or handing out band aids, helping wipe a bloody nose, etc.) without an active parental consent on file?

Yes. General caretaking is not considered a health-related service or a health-care service subject to SB 12. See subsections (b)(11) and (m) in the agency’s draft rule text.

Does Hitchcock ISD have to contact the parent during or after every visit to the nurse their child makes?

Nursing staff will follow district, state health, and licensing protocols to contact parents when there is a health issue that would require a child to go home from school or when the nurse feels the parent should make a decision about whether they wish to pick up the child from school. If a student visits the nurse for the administration of first aid and the parent has not previously notified the district that they opt their child out of this service, parental notification is not required prior to administering it. If the nurse provides general caretaking, as illustrated with examples above, notification is not necessary. Our nurses will use their best professional judgement as to whether notification is necessary after the visit.

Parental Rights and Options Information from TEA

form-parental-rights-and-options-information (PDF)

Main Menu

In This Section