Florida parental rights law slows school services with permission slips

Throughout Florida, school districts have responded to the requirements of “parental rights” laws by asking for more explicit permission to provide services that previously were taken for granted.

The result in many places has been a reduction in such areas as counseling, library checkouts and nursing for ailments and injuries. Schools are requiring permission slips for more things than ever before, including whether a child can be called by a nickname.

School employees say they are spending as much time chasing down permission slips as helping kids. “Everybody is afraid to get sued,” said Carmen Larson, former chairperson of the Florida School Counselor Association. Read more from the NY Times.