CCPS Charting New Ground with Telehealth Services in School

CAROLINE COUNTY – The 2025-2026 school year is just around the corner. With it comes lots of “new”: new clothes, new teachers, new morning routines, and new pencils that will surely be lost in no time. Something else that’s brand new this year is Caroline County Public Schools’ telehealth policy, a set of guidelines for how our schools can help students attend virtual appointments without sacrificing class time.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically increased the demand for remote appointments, many have found it to be a more convenient option, especially in an area like Caroline that lacks nearby access to a wide variety of healthcare needs. Instead of taking a day off work to drive long distances for a doctor’s appointment, that time can sometimes be saved by opting for a telehealth appointment. But what if students could also take advantage of this convenience while still in their respective school buildings? At a July 1 Board of Education meeting, CCPS Superintendent Dr. Derek Simmons said that the county has been offering limited opportunities for telehealth in recent years, and it has been “wonderful for our students getting access to the services they need.”

Director of Student Services Kirk Howie emphasized that the expansion of telehealth services in public schools could be especially beneficial for Caroline families. “This will hopefully reduce time missed from school for students, especially if the meetings with the prospective clinicians are a greater distance—thus reducing lost work time and transportation for parents as well,” he said.

The new telehealth policy stems from state legislation. Maryland law now requires each local school system to adopt a plan that allows students to participate in telehealth appointments during the school day when possible. The Caroline Board of Education approved the policy at its July 1 meeting after Supervisor of Human Resources Robert Willoughby presented it as a “model policy” from the Maryland State Department of Education. Dr. Simmons himself had a hand in shaping the state’s model policy, stating he “had the privilege of serving on the telehealth workgroup for the state to help develop the guidelines by which school systems could operate.”

Dr. Simmons added that CCPS is not starting from scratch. “Choptank Community Health uses telehealth within its wellness centers on a regular basis for providing services for our kids. So in somatic health, we were already providing it. And we have vetted partners for behavioral health. They were using tele in some regards to help students. And we also have a substance use disorder mobile treatment unit that comes to some of our schools, and they use telehealth on there as well. So we were already using it,” he explained.

The policy emphasizes the connection between health and student success, highlighting the importance of access to both medical and behavioral health services.

Willoughby said the guidelines address “key aspects like appointment scheduling, logistics, confidentiality, consent, and the feasibility of designating private spaces for telehealth sessions.” Some examples of these logistical guidelines are requiring a parent to be present – in person or virtually – if the provider is not already approved by CCPS, and students must use their own electronic devices or one supplied by the practitioner rather than a school-issued laptop. The policy also lays out a plan for follow-up care: if a behavioral health appointment raises urgent concerns, such as suicidal thoughts or a need for crisis intervention, a qualified practitioner will come to the school in person to work with the student, staff, and family to ensure safety. The policy explicitly states that students will not be marked absent while attending telehealth appointments and are expected to return to class once the session concludes.

Howie acknowledged the balance required to make the system work smoothly. “CCPS has taken actions to limit the disruption to school, staff, and students by establishing communication and processes to limit challenges,” he said, “We have an outstanding relationship with our local providers, primarily Choptank Community Health, for health services. Our students and staff perform best when they are healthy and the school-based health centers provide access in the schools, again limiting time lost from school or work.” At the end of the day, Howie is hopeful that the new policy guidelines will yield “An increased collaboration with providers and additional support and benefits for students and parents.”