Right to Parental Involvement-HB 8

Healthcare Services Annual Notice & Parent Exemption Option House Bill 8 (2025),

O.R.C. §3313.473

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Franklin City School District (the “School District”) is committed to the health and well-being of all students. As part of our school health services, several physical and mental healthcare services are provided as part of this commitment. Some of these services are required to be provided by the School District, and others are options. This Notice is to inform you of the health care services offered within the School District, and whether your consent is required for the same. In most situations, these services are separate and should not be confused with special education services. Special education services are governed by various other state and federal laws that require parental consent.

Nursing Healthcare Services

General Clinic Services include, but are not limited to, acute visits for concerns such as first aid, unanticipated minor injuries, emergencies, headaches, loose teeth, stomach aches, and acute injury.  These are generally provided without parental consent in advance.

Individual Healthcare Services are procedural services deemed necessary by a student’s physician and/or parent, including but not limited to medication administration, tube feedings, diabetic care, asthma management, seizure management, and allergy management. This is coordinated through physician orders provided by the parent in advance. No medication administration or Individual Healthcare Services are provided without parental consent in advance.  

State-Required Hearing and Vision Screenings are offered to all students at no cost to families and are administered according to state guidelines. These screenings are required annually for preschool and kindergarten students, and every other year for grades 1-12. Parents may choose to opt out of these state-required screenings via a written request submitted to the building principal, or to obtain these screenings through their student’s physician.  The Screenings will be provided unless a parent/guardian has opted out via the district form. This form must be completed separately for each child and is required to be completed annually.  

Scoliosis Screenings are offered to all students in 7th Grade at no cost to families and are administered within the school building.  This screening occurs in conjunction with Dayton Children’s Hospital.  A registered nurse from Dayton Children's completes the screening.  Parents can opt out of this screening via the district opt-out form.  

Mental Health Services 

School Counselor Services:

● Academic Services include academic advising, course scheduling, coursework management, setting educational goals, and post-secondary planning. These services are provided to all students by school guidance counselor(s). Parent consent is not required for these services. Parents are notified if there is a substantial change in a student’s academic performance in accordance with state law.

● Emotional Support encompasses resilience, coping strategies, growth mindset approaches, peer conflict management, emotional regulation, and grief support. Parents are not required to provide consent for these services. Parents are notified of a substantial change in a student’s use of these services as required under state law.  

•  All counselors also notify students that a level of confidentiality exists unless someone is harming the student, or the student expresses a desire to harm themselves or another person. 
• Parents/Guardians are also contacted for substantial changes in academic performance; substantial changes in social-emotional/behavioral/mental health status; any harassment, intimidation, or bullying; any request to identify as a gender that does not align with the student’s biological sex; or exhibiting of suicidal ideation, persistent depression, severe anxiety, or other mental health concern.   
• Additionally, if there is a substantial change in the use of any of the health services described in this notice, parents/guardians are contacted.

Emotional Mental Healthcare Services include the availability of a calming space for students.  These monitored spaces provide students with a relaxing environment in which to decompress or rest when they are upset, frustrated, or anxious. Parents may opt out of these mental health services by contacting their school counselor.  

Private Mental Healthcare Services include mental health services provided in the school setting through a private provider contracted by the School District to operate within the school buildings.  These services are not provided unless parental consent is obtained in advance, and all services are coordinated between parents and the private provider (Catalyst Counseling). These services may also be available through private providers in the community or through a student’s physician’s office.  

Behavioral Support Services include indirect and direct support from the district’s collaborative behavior support team. The team is composed of licensed Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA) and Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs). When the team provides classroom support for staff members, consent is not required. Any direct services provided in which team members work directly with students in small groups or one-on-one settings, whether incident or outside the classroom, require parental consent and will not occur without it.

Parent/Guardian Consent Will Be Obtained For:

● Individual Healthcare Services

● Private Mental Healthcare Services

Parental consent to any services outlined in this Notice does not waive the parent's right to access the student's educational or health records or to be notified about a change in the Student’s services or monitoring as provided by law.

For questions or more information, please contact James McFarland, Assistant Superintendent, at (937) 743-8602.