Parents' Bill of Rights
Bay District Schools, in conjunction with the Florida Legislature, recognizes the fundamental right of parents to direct the upbringing, education, and care of their children. In Bay County, we are fortunate to have numerous community services available to the families we serve. With the offering of services comes a parent's fundamental rights, under Florida’s Parents' Bill of Rights, to make informed, individualized, and specific consent decisions regarding your child’s health and wellbeing that aligns with your personal beliefs and your preferred choices.
Please know that consenting to healthcare and/or other services does not negate or waive your right to access records pertaining to your child. Bay District Schools is committed to protecting parental rights by enforcing Section 1002.22, Florida Statutes, as well as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) with regards to a student’s academics, behavior, and medical records.
Please be advised that if your child has an individualized Education Plan (IEP) or Section 504 Plan, then the specific written consent(s) you have provided during the IEP or Section 504 planning, or evaluation process, will control and take precedence over any consent parameters set forth in written or electronic consent forms. If you have questions or concerns regarding previous consents, evaluations, or services provided to your child under his/her IEP, 504 plan, or evaluation process, please contact your child’s school to schedule a team meeting to discuss the rights afforded to you under the IDEA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
To learn more about the healthcare and other services that are available to your child, and to make an informed decision as to whether you will be consenting to the provision of those services, please complete the appropriate form which is available for viewing in the links below or contact your child’s school.
Parents' Bill of Rights
Bay District Schools is committed to honoring the rights of parents and promoting parental involvement within the educational process. The School Board of Bay County recognizes the fundamental rights of parents to direct the education, care, and upbringing of their minor children.
Florida Statutes Link
School Board Policy
Board Policy Link
Parent/Guardian Rights and Notices
Parental Consent and Opt-outs
Reproductive Health and Disease
HB 545 Requires school districts and boards to:
Publish notice on district's website concerning parent's right to exempt student from reproductive health & disease education
Annually approve instructional materials relating to reproductive health and disease education in an open, noticed public meeting
Make reproductive health and disease education instructional materials available for public review and comment under a specific process.
Reproductive Health and Disease Education
Library/Media Center Usage
Every student is provided the opportunity to check out and utilize books (print and eBooks), periodicals, and other resources at the school. Materials included in the school library/media center should be age-appropriate and support state standards, benchmarks, and course goals. Parents can access their student's school webpage to find materials located in the school's media collection. Click here to find your student's school webpage. Parents who would like to opt out their student from the opportunity to check out and utilize books (print and eBooks), periodicals, and other resources at the school can indicate this by contacting their school's media specialist where a note will then be added to the student's Destiny patron account.
Library/Media Center Usage
Likeness Permission
The School Board of Bay County strives to celebrate the accomplishments of its students by sharing information with the community. To do this, the District may submit press releases to local media (newspapers, radio, television, online news blogs) that include student names, student work, student photographs, and video and/or voice recordings.
In addition, the District may choose to publish and/or display this information in District-sponsored publications, at various school or public functions, on the School’s cable channel, website(s) and various social media channels, or in the school yearbook. While the intent of this practice is to be informative and celebratory, the District recognizes that concerns may arise regarding a student’s right to privacy.
Pursuant to the Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), school districts are permitted to release "school directory information" unless parents exercise their right of refusal. Under the FERPA law, this information could include: student name, photographs/images, school locations, honors and awards received, and participation in athletics and other activities. If you DO NOT grant permission for the District and/or school to release your child’s name, photograph, schoolwork, and/or video or voice recording in the manner stated above, you must indicate no. A “no” is considered valid for one (1) school year.
It is the intent and practice of the School District to publish, post, or release ONLY a child’s name, photograph, audio and/or video recording, displays of student work or other school-related information and ONLY as related to student achievement (e.g. academic/athletic recognition or award) or student accomplishment (e.g. a specially selected piece of work).
Please understand, however, that if you do not give consent for your child’s likeness to be shared on BDS social media/websites/external broadcasts etc. then your child's image/name will not be included in year-end slide shows, honors celebration videos and other celebratory posts/videos because you did not give consent. It’s not possible to give individual consent per event.
Digital Likeness Permission
Specific Health Services Consent
Every student has the opportunity to participate in the School Health Service Program provided in partnership with PanCare Inc. of Florida and Florida Department of Health in Bay County. As required in Section 381.0056, Florida Statues, the District's School Health Plan is to enrich learning by promoting student health and wellness.
Basic services including Basic First Aid and Medication Administration Assistance are provided to all students with proper parent/guardian consent. Additional services, specifically school health screenings, are grade-level specific. Additional grades or individuals may be screened based on need. In addition to grade-level specific screenings for hearing, vision, dental, height/weight, and scoliosis, all students new to the state of Florida in grades K-5 will have the opportunity to be screened for vision and hearing.
Consent for services is based on completion of the Specific Health Consent Form and will remain in effect for one (1) school year unless a parent/guardian rescinds consent for school health services. Separate parent/guardian authorizations are required for the school clinic staff or health technicians to administer any medication (prescribed or over-the-counter) on a daily or as-needed basis.
Specific Health Service Consent
Notification of Parental Rights
Notification of Parental Rights. Bay District School Board has developed policies, procedures, and practices to support strong, continuing family and community involvement in all aspects of school programs and activities. The resources described in the specific topic areas below represent the information most applicable to the topic areas discussed, but are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all resources that address these topics.
Pursuant to s. 1002.23, F.S. (the Family and School Partnership for Student Achievement Act), the District maintains plans for parental participation in schools to improve parent and teacher cooperation in such areas as homework, school attendance, and discipline. Such plans are located in Chapter 9 of the School Board Policy Manual, including in the “Parent and Family Involvement with Schools” and the “Parent-Teacher Conferences and Other Meetings Concerning Students” sections. The School Board Policy Manual may be found on the District’s website (www.bay.k12.fl.us) on “Our District” tab under “About Us.” School volunteer forms may be found on the District’s website on the “Parents” tab under “Info/Resources.” Schools may create additional site-specific plans, and parents may inquire with their schools about these.
Pursuant to s. 1002.20(19)(b), F.S., the District maintains procedures for a parent to learn about their minor child’s course of study, including the source of any supplemental education materials. Chapter 8, Part 5 of the School Board Policy Manual (“Instructional Materials and Resources”) contains these procedures, and the School Board Policy Manual can be found on the District’s website (www.bay.k12.fl.us) on “Our District” tab under “About Us.”. In addition, the District’s website contains a link to a searchable list of adopted Instructional Materials and approved Instructional Aids, which can also be found at https://www.bdstechandmedia.com/instructional-materials. Ultimately, questions about specific materials may be directed to the child’s teacher and/or the school Principal.
Pursuant to s. 1006.28(2)(a)2., F.S., the District maintains procedures for a parent to object to instructional materials and other materials used in the classroom. Such objections may be based on beliefs regarding morality, sex, and religion or the belief that such materials are harmful. For purposes of this policy, the term “instructional materials” has the same meaning as in s. 1006.29(2), F. S. Chapter 8, Part 5 of the School Board Policy Manual (“Instructional Materials and Resources”) contains these procedures.
The District honors parents’ rights, pursuant to s. 1002.20(3)(d), F.S., to withdraw their minor child from any portion of the District’s comprehensive health education required under s. 1003.42(2)(n), F.S., that relates to sex education or instruction in acquired immune deficiency syndrome education or any instruction regarding sexuality if the parent provides a written objection to their minor child’s participation. Parents may make such election by submitting a written request to their child’s school Principal. Further, the District’s website contains a link to a list of adopted Instructional Materials relating to reproductive health and disease, which can also be found at https://www.bdstechandmedia.com/instructional-materials. The procedure for requesting a review of these materials can be found on the website.
The District adheres to s. 1006.195(1)(a), F.S., and communicates information regarding clubs and activities offered at schools. This communication is accomplished through the Code of Student Conduct in the “Eligibility for Participation in Interscholastic Extracurricular Activities,” as well as information shared at the school level through school websites and/or other school-specific communications to parents.
Parents may learn more about parental rights and responsibilities under general law, specifically including the following laws and rights, by reviewing the District and school websites. If the websites do not provide the information sought, parents may contact their child’s school Principal for more information. The Principal may refer the parent to another District employee based upon the subject matter. If the parent does not receive the information from the Principal or any person identified by the Principal, then the parents should contact the District office.
Pursuant to s. 1002.20(3)(d), F.S., parents have the right to opt their minor child out of any portion of the District’s comprehensive health education required under s. 1003.42(2)(n), F.S., that relates to sex education instruction in acquired immune deficiency syndrome education or any instruction regarding sexuality. The District’s website provides information on how to withdraw your child from the portions of the required health education on the “Parent” tab under “Reproductive Health and Disease Education.” More information about the adopted Instructional Materials relating to reproductive health and disease may be found at https://www.bdstechandmedia.com/instructional-materials, as well as the procedure for requesting a review of these materials.
The District shares information with parents about school choice options, including open enrollment, pursuant to s. 1002.20(6), F.S., through direct parent contact, local media, and its website, www.bay.k12.fl.us, by navigating to the “Our Schools” tab and then to “School Choice.”
Pursuant to s. 1002.20(3)(b), F.S., parents have the right to exempt their minor child from immunizations required by law for public school attendance. Parents with questions or a desire to explore an exemption should contact their child’s school nurse first, and then the school Principal if the nurse does not provide the information.
Pursuant to s. 1008.22, F.S., parents have the right to review statewide, standardized assessment results. Individual student’s assessment results may be viewed in the District’s Parent Portal by parents using their log-in information. School-level and District-level assessment results may be viewed on the Florida Department of Education’s website (www.fldoe.org) under the “Accountability” tab.
Pursuant to s. 1003.57, F.S., parents have the right to seek eligibility for gifted programs and other exception student education programs. Information on programs offered at middle and high schools may be found on the District’s website, www.bay.k12.fl.us, by navigating to the “Our Schools” tab and then to “Academic Programs.” Questions regarding such eligibility may be directed to the school Principal.
Pursuant to s. 1006.28(2)(a)1., F.S., parents have the right to inspect school district instructional materials, and the District maintains a list on its website as required by law and can be found on the homepage link for “Instructional Materials.” Parents may also access this list using the following link: https://www.bdstechandmedia.com/instructional-materials.
Pursuant to s. 1008.25, F.S., parents have the right to access information relating to the District’s policies for promotion or retention, including high school graduation requirements. This information can be accessed by reviewing School Board policies 8.401, 8.402, and 8.405. The School Board Policy Manual may be found on the District’s website, www.bay.k12.fl.us, by following the “Our District” tab and then to “Policies.”
Pursuant to s. 1002.20(14), F.S., parents have the right to receive a school report card and be informed of their minor child’s attendance requirements. Current and summative grades and attendance can be found in the District’s Parent Portal, which is accessible to parents.
Pursuant to s. 1002.23, F.S., parents have the right to access information relating to the state public education system, state standards, report card requirements, attendance requirements, and instructional materials requirements. Information regarding the state public education system and state standards may be found at the Florida Department of Education website, https://www.fldoe.org/. Parents may also learn about report cards and attendance requirements through the District’s Parent Portal, which is accessible to parents, by reviewing their child’s courses and the materials posted by the teacher and/or school, and by reviewing grade and attendance information. School Board policies 8.501-8.506 discuss instructional materials, including the adoption, evaluation, and review of those materials. The District’s website contains a link to a searchable list of adopted Instructional Materials and approved Instructional Aids, which can also be found at https://www.bdstechandmedia.com/instructional-materials. Ultimately, questions about specific materials may be directed to the child’s teacher and/or the school Principal.
Pursuant to s. 1002.23(4), F.S., parents have the right to participate in parent-teacher associations and organizations that are sanctioned by a School Board or the Department of Education. Information regarding these opportunities, including school advisory councils, can be viewed on each school’s website.
Pursuant to s. 1002.222(1)(a), F.S., neither the School Board nor the District engages in any District-level collection of data or information regarding the political affiliation, voting history, religious affiliation, or biometric information of a student.
Information Requests. A parent may request, in writing from the Superintendent the information required under this section. Within 10 days, the Superintendent must provide such information to the parent. If the Superintendent denies a parent’s request for information or does not respond to the parent’s request within 10 days, the parent may appeal the denial to the School Board. The School Board must place a parent’s appeal on the agenda for its next public meeting. If it is too late for a parent’s appeal to appear on the next agenda, the appeal must be included on the agenda for the subsequent meeting.
Limitation of Rights. This policy does not authorize a parent of a minor child to engage in conduct that is unlawful or to abuse or neglect their minor child in violation of general law. See, e.g., School Board Policy 3.139 (“Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse, Abandonment, and Neglect”). Parental rights do not prohibit or impede child welfare activities, or any other statutory or legal duties or rights, when performed by a court of competent jurisdiction, law enforcement officers, or employees of a government agency.
