What is required for confidential info about a student's counseling to be released to third parties?

For confidential information about a student's counseling to be released to third parties, written parental consent is necessary. This requirement is grounded in both ethical and legal standards surrounding student privacy, particularly as outlined in laws like the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

Written consent ensures that parents or guardians are fully aware of what information is being shared, with whom it is being shared, and for what purpose. This form of consent protects the student's confidentiality and ensures that the parent has the opportunity to think about and agree to the disclosure, providing a documented record of that agreement.

While verbal consent might seem sufficient in some informal contexts, it lacks the legal robustness and clarity that written consent provides. Permission from the school principal does not give the counselor the authority to bypass confidentiality agreements without parental knowledge. Additionally, the notion that a counselor can release information based solely on their assessment of necessity goes against established protocols designed to protect student privacy. Thus, written parental consent stands as the correct and most protective option in this scenario.