Can a Caregiver Sign Permission Slips, Field Trip Forms, and Sports Waivers in Massachusetts?

Yes, the Affidavit Covers Permission Slips

The Caregiver Authorization Affidavit under M.G.L. c. 201F delegates educational authority to the caregiver. DESE's advisory explicitly states that this includes signing permission slips, field trip consent forms, and approving participation in extracurricular activities and school sports.

If the school already has your affidavit on file, signing a permission slip should be straightforward. The school knows you are the authorized educational decision-maker for the child.

What About Sports Physicals and Medical Waivers?

School sports often require two things: a signed participation consent form (educational authority) and a pre-participation sports physical signed by a doctor (medical authority). The c. 201F affidavit covers both — it grants the caregiver concurrent authority for educational and healthcare decisions.

You can sign the school's athletic participation forms, and you can take the child to the doctor for the required sports physical. The doctor can bill MassHealth or the child's insurance, and you consent to the exam under the medical authority granted by the affidavit.

EEC-Licensed Childcare and After-School Programs

For younger children, the affidavit also satisfies requirements at early education and childcare programs regulated by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC). Licensed providers need executed emergency medical consent and authorized pick-up/drop-off records. Presenting the affidavit covers signing enrollment contracts, medical release forms, and daily transportation logs.

When a Form Asks for "Parent Signature"

Most school forms are printed with a "Parent/Guardian Signature" line. As a caregiver with a valid c. 201F affidavit, you sign on that line. If a teacher or coach questions your signature, point them to the affidavit on file in the main office. The school should already have procedures for this — DESE's guidance makes clear that the caregiver stands in the parent's shoes for all educational purposes.

If the form specifically says "legal guardian" and a staff member insists that means a court-appointed guardian, the escalation process applies: ask them to check with the main office, then the district registrar or student support director if needed.

The Massachusetts School and Medical Consent Guide covers the full scope of educational authority — from daily permission slips to IEP meetings — and includes the steps to take when any part of the school system pushes back.

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