CARROLLTON, Texas — The Texas Education Agency issued new guidance Monday on a state law that requires parental consent before students receive healthcare services, after districts said it prohibited them from simply offering children bandages and led to a 5-year-old being sent home covered in vomit, his mother said.

The new TEA rule draft creates distinct categories with detailed definitions for both "health-related services" like school counseling services and first aid, and "health-care services," which includes formal medical/psychological treatment.

Districts have now been told they must notify parents of all services -- and allow them to opt-out of "health-related services," according to the latest draft of the TEA rules.

The draft rule said districts are required to provide gen

See Full Page