Texas TEA Revises Rules on School Nurse and Counselor Services After Parental Consent Backlash

New State Law Impacts School Services

• 🎯 A new state law, effective last week, requires school districts to obtain parental consent before counselors can interact with students.
• ⚠️ This law has created a new hurdle for counselors, requiring them to have consent on file for every student before providing services.

First Aid Services Restricted by Law

• 🩹 Some districts interpreted the law to mean that even basic first aid, like giving out a Band-Aid or checking a temperature, requires parental permission.
• 😢 This led to situations where students were sent home without basic care, such as a 5-year-old who was sent home sick from school without assistance due to a lack of consent forms.

TEA Issues New Guidance After Backlash

• 📢 Following backlash from lawmakers who felt the bill was misinterpreted, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) issued new guidance.
• ✅ The revised guidance clarifies that basic first aid is now allowed unless parents have specifically opted out.
• ❓ However, districts may still need consent forms for certain services that counselors provide, as the rules continue to evolve.
• 📚 School districts are working to adapt to these changing rules, balancing compliance with the primary goal of student well-being.