Physical Health Services and Mental Health Services consent

In compliance with Senate Bill 12 (SB 12), parents/guardians are required to provide consent for each student to receive routine physical health services and mental health services at school. Providing this consent ensures your child has timely and equitable access to campus nursing and/or counseling services that promote safety, wellness, and readiness to learn.

Without this consent, school staff will be limited in the services they can provide to your child during the school day.

Parents must do the following:

Review and select the routine physical and mental health services selections.
Complete the Physical Health Services and Mental Health Services Consent acknowledgment form. You must choose either ‘I do consent’ or ‘I do not consent’ for both Physical Health Services and Mental Health Services.
Complete both by Oct. 10, 2025.

Consent and
acknowledgement Form

Comments
and
Complaints

Why Consent is Needed

Texas law requires written parental permission before students may receive routine physical health services and mental health services. These services may be provided by:

School nurses
Counselors and social workers
Athletic trainers
Other certified health and mental health professionals

In emergencies, staff will always act immediately to protect your child’s safety and will contact you as soon as possible. Staff may also check in verbally on a student’s daily well-being.

Benefits of Providing Consent

When consent is given, your child has access to timely, equitable care that supports their health, safety, emotional wellness, and readiness to learn.

Examples of routine services that may be provided with your consent:

Routine School Health-Related Services (to be provided by nurse or trainer)

Physical Health Services Consent (provided by school nurses or athletic trainers)

General First Aid and Evaluation
Vision, hearing, and scoliosis screenings
Monitoring of chronic health conditions
Administration of scheduled prescription medications
Administration of over-the-counter medications
Scheduled nursing procedures

Parental/Guardian consent is NOT required for these services:

Emergency medical treatment pursuant to FFAC(LOCAL)
Heat illness prevention and injury support for student athletes

Mental Health Services Consent (provided by school counselors or mental health staff)

Short-term individual counseling or check-ins
Social-emotional learning activities and group support
Support during emotional distress or crisis
Behavioral observations and problem-solving strategies
Referral to community providers, if needed (with additional consent)
Medical or psychological diagnosis

Consent and
acknowledgement Form

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I access the online selections and acknowledgement form?

What are the steps involved in selecting my consent choices?

Why do we need to complete these selections and acknowledgment forms?

What are considered “routine” services?

Physical health services include basic first aid such as band-aids, ice packs, menstrual supplies, or temperature checks. Also included are vision, hearing, and scoliosis screenings, as well as management of chronic health conditions such as diabetes and asthma. These services also cover routine medication administration and support for students with ongoing medical needs. When appropriate referrals are provided to community partners for follow up care as needed.
Mental health services include short-term individual counseling and check-ins, social-emotional learning activities, group support sessions, assistance during times of emotional distress, and behavioral observations and problem-solving strategies. When appropriate, referrals may also be made to district-approved community partners and resources.

How long is the consent valid?

Does HB-12 affect academic advising or college readiness services?

What happens if a parent doesn’t give consent?

If a parent selects “No” on the consent form, school nurses, counselors, social workers, athletic trainers, and all other certified district health and mental health personnel will not be able to provide ongoing counseling, regular check-ins, or follow-up support for the student. However, students will always receive emergency interventions if they are in danger or at risk of harm. School employees may still ask general questions about a student’s daily well-being.

Contact for questions?

Please contact your campus with any questions.

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