Blog

Clubs and Consent – Ain’t No Party Like a SB12 Party!

Tex. Educ. Code §33.0815(c) requires that a “school district or open-enrollment charter school must require the written consent of the parent of or person standing in parental relation to a student enrolled in the district or school before the student may participate in a student club authorized or sponsored under Subsection (a) at the district or school.” This is, of course, a new requirement for this school year. Districts have undertaken a number of approaches to satisfy this requirement. From paper copies to Survey Monkey, districts have been creative in their solutions to meet this requirement. Thus far, TEA has not put out a model form as it has with other mandates, so for now, existing forms and processes relating to §33.0815(c) presumably continue to satisfy the legal requirements.

Interestingly, TEA put out guidance regarding a Parent’s Rights and Options Form in late August, that speaks to a number of other required items found in SB 12, but this document was silent as to parental consent for student clubs. See Parents Rights and Options Form. Until further guidance or model forms are provided by TEA, there is no officially sanctioned method for obtaining consent from parents prior to student participation in clubs (i.e. no model form or notice from TEA). Thus, each district may continue the practice that works for them assuming it is compliant with the requirements of SB 12 and that it maintains documentation of parental consent electronically or otherwise.