New consent form is necessary to provide health services

Dallas ISD and other school districts in Texas are required to obtain written permission from parents or guardians to provide any health-related services to students, including handing out band aids to treat minor cuts or checking temperatures. 

The form is a requirement of Senate Bill 12, passed by the 89th Texas Legislature. Without the written consent form, a school district can only provide life-saving care. To provide all other health-related services—including administering prescribed medications—the child’s parent/guardian must check “Yes” and sign the Parental Consent for School Health-Related Services form, said Jennifer Finley, executive director of Health Services. 

Because these school health-related services are most often provided by the school nurse, they are already working with other team members in the schools to get these forms to parents. However, additional school team members may also provide first-aid and care of ill or injured students, which is why it is crucial that the form be signed and in the student’s file, Finley said. 

These school team members may include nurse assistants, teachers, athletic trainers, counselors, and others who supervise children.  

Education Technology is working to add the form to SchoolMint as part of the student enrollment package, but for this year, the form must be distributed to parents and completed as an electronic PDF or printed. 

Health-related services often performed in schools may include, but are not limited to: 

• First aid (minor cuts, burns, nose bleeds and sprains)
• Checks of temperature, blood pressure, and pulse
• Listening to breathing, heart or bowel sounds
• Examination of pupil responsiveness
• Administration of prescription and/or over the counter medications
• Vision and hearing screenings
• Spinal and acanthosis screening
• Health education
• Bullying and harassment prevention
• Diabetes education
• Concussion/head injury protocols
• Seizure management

The permission form is to be provided to the parent/guardian upon enrollment annually. Once signed by the parent the form remains in effect for the school year.