In accordance with General Laws Chapter 71, Section 32A, the School Committee has adopted this policy on the rights of parents and guardians of our students in relation to curriculum that primarily involves human sexual education or human sexuality issues.
At the beginning of each school year, all parents/guardians of students in our schools will be notified in writing via U.S. mail or email of the courses and curriculum we offer that primarily involve human sexual or human sexuality issues. Each building principal will be responsible for sending the notice(s). Parents/guardians of students who enroll in school after the start of the school year will be given the written notice at the time of enrollment. If the planned curriculum changes during the school year, to the extent practicable, parents/guardians will be notified of this fact in a timely manner before implementation.
Each such notice to parents/guardians will provide a description that shall explicitly identify the topics of abortion, birth control, and laws regarding minors’ access to reproductive healthcare when these topics are included in a curriculum or presentation involving human sexual education or human sexuality issues. The notice shall inform parents/guardians that:
- They may sign a consent form to allow their child to receive instruction in sexual education and human sexuality issues, but that no student shall receive such instruction unless the District has received such a form;
- They may inspect and review program instructional materials for these curricula, which will be made reasonably accessible to parents/guardians and others to the extent practicable. Parents/guardians may arrange with the principal to review the materials; and
- All students whose parents or guardians have not consented to instruction in sexual education and human sexuality issues shall be given an alternative assignment.
A parent/guardian who is dissatisfied with a decision of the principal concerning notice or access to instructional materials for the student under this policy may send a written request to the Superintendent for review of the issue. The Superintendent or designee will review the issue and give the parent/guardian a timely written decision, preferably within two weeks of the request. A parent/guardian who is dissatisfied with the Superintendent’s decision may send a written request to the School Committee for review of the issue. The School Committee will review the issue and give the parent/guardian a timely written decision, preferably within four weeks of the request. A parent/guardian who is still dissatisfied after this process may send a written request to the Commissioner of Education for review of the issue in the dispute.
The District shall publish on its website the title, edition, and publisher of every resource it uses for all courses and curricula that primarily involve human sexual or human sexuality issues.
LEGAL REFS.: M.G.L. 71:32A
CROSS REFS.: IHAMA, Sex Education Programs
Download PDF