Can Schools Refuse Digital Consent and Require “Wet Ink” Signatures?
Question: Can schools refuse to accept parental consent provided digitally and insist on handwritten (“wet ink”) signatures on paper? Answer:
Question:
Can schools refuse to accept parental consent provided digitally and insist on handwritten (“wet ink”) signatures on paper?
Answer:
No. IDEA does not require handwritten signatures, and schools may not reject otherwise valid parental consent simply because it was provided electronically or not on a district-created form.
This isn’t a loophole or a technicality. It’s how the law is written—and how it has been interpreted by U.S. Department of Education (ED) and states such as Virginia.
Why This Matters
Disputes over “wet ink” signatures often arise when schools want to delay evaluations, limit evaluation areas, avoid triggering IDEA timelines, or shift responsibility for delays onto parents.
IDEA was written to protect students—not to create paperwork traps. When a parent provides clear, informed, written consent, the school’s obligation is to act.
