Dalhart, Texas – Texas House Bill 12 is now law, and Dalhart ISD discusses how it increases parents’ authority over their children in public schools while potentially limiting instructors.
The bill compels school districts to get parental consent forms.
The consent form grants pupils permission to engage in any club or school-sanctioned activity.
This involves obtaining consent prior to receiving any mental or physical health services.
“You know they tell us they want our counselors providing more behavioral, social, mental illness, well-being for our students, but if parents don’t fill this form out, then our counselors can’t meet and assist the kids,” says Jeff Byrd, superintendent of Dalhart Elementary.
Byrd says he believes the measure was crafted in good spirit, but it limits nurses and counselors if a permission form is not completed.
This also increases the workload for the district.
“It’s causing a paperwork backlog and interfering with counselors’ ability to perform their duties. It interferes with nurses’ ability to do their duties. Byrd says, “It’s just one more pile for the principal.” “At some point we’ve got to stop doing paperwork and start doing what’s right for our kids.”
If consent is not provided, the school district will arrange an alternative activity for the student.
If medical or mental health services are required, the school district must first inform the parent or guardian before proceeding.
According to Byrd, the law also demands increased access to school board meetings and earlier notice for parents.
