                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

STUDENT ACCESS TO TELEHEALTH SERVICES; SCHOOL DIVISION POLICIES (§ 22.1-272.3)

A. In order to increase access to health care services for students, each school
board shall consider developing and implementing policies for permitting any
public school student in the school division to schedule and participate in
telehealth services and mental health teletherapy services on school property
during regular school hours with parental consent. Any school board that
implements and develops policies for permitting any public school student in the
school division to schedule and participate in mental health teletherapy
services shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with a nationally
recognized school-based telehealth provider in accordance with the model
memorandum of understanding developed by the Department pursuant to &#xA7;
22.1-272.2.

B. Any such policies developed and implemented by a school board for permitting
any public school student in the school division to schedule and participate in
telehealth services and mental health teletherapy services pursuant to
subsection A shall:

   1. Permit any public school student in the school division to schedule and
   participate in telehealth and mental health teletherapy services on school
   property during regular school hours on the same basis as such students are
   permitted to schedule and participate in school counseling services;

   2. Require each public elementary and secondary school at which such
   telehealth services are provided to (i) designate a location in such school
   for students to use for such telehealth appointments that ensures the privacy
   and safety of such students and has Internet access and (ii) implement
   measures to ensure the privacy and safety of each student participating in a
   telehealth appointment;

   3. Prohibit any student from being subject to any disciplinary measure or
   consequence for participating in a telehealth appointment during regular
   school hours if such student would not be subject to disciplinary measures or
   consequences for an absence for the purpose of receiving any health care
   services in person during regular school hours; and

   4. Include such other requirements as the school board deems necessary and
   appropriate.

C. Any such policies developed and implemented by a school board for permitting
any public school student in the school division to schedule and participate in
telehealth services and mental health teletherapy services shall, in addition to
the requirements set forth of subsection B, be consistent with, but may be more
comprehensive than, the parameters set forth in the memorandum of understanding
between the school board and the nationally recognized school-based telehealth
provider developed by the school board pursuant to &#xA7; 22.1-272.2.

D. Each school board that develops and implements any policies in accordance
with this section shall provide guidance relating to the implementation of such
policies for administrative and instructional personnel and shall post such
guidance in a publicly accessible location on its website at the beginning of
each school year.

HISTORY: 2025, cc. 555, 563.