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Board hears first readings of student telehealth, attire and transfer policies; telehealth limited to behavioral health for now
Summary
On first reading, the Board of Education reviewed three updated policies required by law or board request: a new student telehealth policy (staff recommends limiting services to school- or practitioner-initiated behavioral-health telehealth), an update on student attire protections, and an update to assignment and transfer language.
The Board of Education reviewed three policy updates on first reading that will be posted for a 30-day public comment period: a new student telehealth policy, revisions to student attire and personal appearance standards, and updated language on assignment and transfer of students.
Grace Wilson, senior specialist for legislation and policy, told the board that Policy JU, student telehealth, responds to a 2024 state law requiring local boards to develop telehealth policies and that MSDE and the State Department of Health produced implementing guidance. Staff recommended limiting telehealth for the 2025–26 school year to school- or practitioner-initiated services for behavioral health only, delivered through existing partnerships.
Wilson said Policy JCD, Student Attire and Personal Appearance, adds a position statement permitting students to choose their hair style “unless there’s a concern for student health or safety,” and includes language to ensure equitable, dignified enforcement that does not create a hostile environment. Policy JAB, Assignment and Transfer of Students to a School, was updated to expand the policy purpose to cover inter-school transfers and to reflect state law references and current practices.
Why it matters: The telehealth policy implements an unfunded state mandate; staff emphasized resource constraints and recommended a limited initial scope focused on behavioral health. Board members did not take final votes on policy adoptions at this meeting; the three items will be posted for public comment before returning for further board action.
Details: Wilson thanked Assistant Superintendent Ryan Boatland and other staff for support drafting the policies. For student telehealth, staff noted the policy’s scope was constrained by funding limits. For attire, the draft adds protections for equitable enforcement and explicitly affirms students’ rights to dignity in enforcement.
Next steps: Each policy will be posted for a 30-day public comment period before the board considers a final vote. Staff signaled they will use existing behavioral-health partnerships while exploring broader telehealth capacity only if additional resources become available.
Ending: Board members asked no substantive procedural questions during the presentations, and staff remained available to answer questions as the public comment period opens.
