Senate Bill 12 Parental Consent

During the 89th Texas Legislative Session, lawmakers passed Senate Bill 12, which requires schools to obtain parental consent each year before providing certain routine services. These include physical health care through school nurses and mental health support through school counselors. Splendora ISD is dedicated to the safety, well-being, and success of all students, staff, and visitors. Under Texas Senate Bill 12, passed during the Texas 89th regular legislative session, Splendora ISD must provide parents with written notice of School Counseling and School Health Related Services offered at the campus their child attends. Parental Consent related to Senate Bill 12 is completed through the Splendora ISD 2026–2027 Annual Forms. Parents and guardians can view their child’s completed form at any time through Skyward Family Access.

In accordance with Texas Senate Bill 12 (SB 12) and guidance from the Texas Education Agency (TEA), Splendora ISD provides this notice about school-based services that support student mental health and overall well-being. This notification describes the services offered and explains your rights regarding parental consent. Parents have the right to withhold consent for any counseling or mental health-related service listed below. Unless a written opt-out request is submitted, consent is assumed for the services described during the current school year. Parents may update their decision at any time by notifying their child's campus counselor in writing. School counselors also carry a professional and ethical obligation to provide a comprehensive counseling program that supports all students. 

This program is built on four core components: 

• Academic Development: Helping students succeed academically and prepare for postsecondary opportunities.
• Career Development: Supporting students in exploring careers, goal-setting, and postsecondary planning.
• Social/Emotional Development: Promoting mental health, resilience, and interpersonal skills.
• College, Career & Military Readiness (CCMR): Ensuring students meet state and district requirements for postsecondary readiness.

The services described below are part of fulfilling this comprehensive program:

• Counseling and Mental Health-Related Services - Consent Assumed Unless Opted Out

These services are typically short-term, non-invasive, and provided by school counselors:

• Mental Health Services (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)
• Consent options for Mental Health (Counseling Services) 

How to Opt Out
If you would like to opt out of any of the counseling or mental health-related services described above, please contact your child's campus counselor. They will assist you with the opt-out process and answer any questions you may have.

Services That Cannot Be Opted Out Of
Certain services are legally required, and parental consent cannot be withheld for the following:

• Emergency crisis responses to ensure student safety
• Behavioral threat assessments required by law
• Actions involving law enforcement or the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS)
• Other duties or reporting obligations required by law

Parents have the fundamental right to make decisions about their child's upbringing and control. Our goal as a school is to be a supportive partner in that effort, providing effective academic instruction to maximize student learning. To support that goal, we also work to support our students' overall well-being so they can remain academically focused.

School personnel are always expected to encourage students to discuss any well-being issues with the parent. School personnel can also facilitate a conversation between a parent and their child about any well-being issues. Furthermore, employees are expected to keep parents informed related to observations of their child’s mental, emotional, or physical health. Parents have the right to access their child’s education and health records at any time.

Teachers and other employees will periodically inquire about a child’s well-being (e.g., asking how a student is feeling). In some cases, though, more formalized efforts may be appropriate; if so, Splendora ISD employees will work in ways consistent with the goals of the parent.

Our schools offer a variety of health-related and health-care services to each student. This notice is meant to inform parents of all available health-related and health-care services offered, not necessarily to indicate any of these services will be provided to a child.

Parents have the right to opt out and withhold consent for any of these health-related services for their child. To do so, submit a written notice to both the school nurse and school principal. 

Health-related services promote physical health and well-being and are typically short-term and noninvasive. Health-related services offered on the child’s campus consist of the following:

• Physical Health Services (by school nurses or athletic trainers)
• Vision, hearing, and scoliosis screening
• Monitoring of chronic health conditions
• First aid and injury evaluation
• Check vital signs when necessary, including temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate, respiratory rate, and pulse oximetry
• Manage acute and chronic health conditions
• Support during illness or physical symptoms at school
• Assessments requested by administration, counselors, and support staff * except in emergencies or where legally exempt 

Health-care services, as defined by TEA, are “opt-in,” meaning a parent must actively consent for their child to participate in or receive the service. These services will require separate consent.

Health-care services in Splendora ISD require separate forms and/or physician orders, available on the Student Services website or from your school nurse. Health-care services offered on campuses consist of the following:

• Medication administration
• Prescribed medical treatments
• Prescribed medical procedures

If parents do not submit the separate forms/physician orders, Splendora ISD staff will NOT provide these services.