File:  IHAMA

PARENTAL NOTIFICATION RELATIVE TO SEX EDUCATION

In accordance with General Laws Chapter 71, Section 32A, the Greater Fall River Vocational School District 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 at Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School will be notified in writing of the courses and curriculum we offer that primarily involve human sexual or human sexuality issues. The Superintendent-Director will determine the administrator(s) 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 planned curricula 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 include a brief description of the curriculum covered by this policy, and will inform parents/guardians that they may:

1. Exempt their child from any portion of the curriculum that primarily involves human sexual issues, without penalty to the students, by sending a letter to the Assistant Superintendent/Principal requesting an exemption. Any student who is exempted by request of the parent/guardian under this policy may be given an alternative assignment.

2. Inspect and review program instruction 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 Assistant Superintendent/Principal to review the materials at the school and may also review them at other locations that may be determined by the Superintendent-Director.

A parent/guardian who is dissatisfied with a decision of the Assistant Superintendent-Director/ Principal concerning notice, access to instructional materials, or exemption for the student under this policy, may send a written request to the Superintendent-Director for review of the issue. The Superintendent-Director 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-Director'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 dispute.

The Superintendent-Director will distribute a copy of this policy through the student handbook.

SOURCE: MASC October 2016

LEGAL REFS: M.G.L. 71:32A

Adopted: 10/11/18