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Board hears draft telehealth policy; staff to deliver operational procedure and confirm parental‑consent language
Summary
Staff presented a proposed student telehealth access policy to comply with Maryland House Bill requiring districts to allow telehealth appointments for middle and high school students. The board requested the accompanying operational procedure and asked staff to add explicit parental‑consent language before the policy returns for a vote.
Harford County Public Schools presented a proposed new policy on student telehealth access at the March 10 Board of Education meeting to comply with state legislation requiring school systems to allow telehealth appointments for students.
Staff said the policy implements House Bill 522 (public schools telehealth appointments) and applies to middle and high school students. The policy outlines high‑level expectations: staff will publicize the program in student handbooks and provide notification to parents and staff; the district must permit parent‑initiated and school‑initiated telehealth appointments; and staff must address confidentiality, informed consent, technology and space requirements, and post‑appointment follow‑up.
Board members asked to see the accompanying procedure before the board votes on the policy. Staff said an operational procedure was roughly 80% complete and that principals and technology staff would be consulted. Several board members requested explicit language stating that telehealth appointments require parental consent and that parents be present (in person or virtually) for appointments — especially those involving mental‑health providers — to avoid placing school staff in the position of conducting clinical follow‑up without parent involvement.
Staff said they would add a parental‑consent clause to the policy language (or to the linked procedure) and return the procedure to the board before the March vote cycle. The board noted the statutory deadline for the district to adopt a policy is July 1; staff said they expect to present the finalized procedure and updated policy language for action at the board meeting after the 30‑day public comment period.
