POLICY FOR PARENTAL NOTIFICATION RELATIVE TO
5.12
SEX EDUCATION
In accordance
with General Laws Chapter 71, Section 32A, the Millis School Committee has adopted
this policy on the rights of parents, stepparents, 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 / stepparents / guardians of students in
the Millis Public Schools will be notified in writing of the courses and curriculum
we offer that primarily involve human sexual education or human sexuality issues. The
Superintendent of Schools will determine the administrator(s) responsible for sending
the notice(s). Parents / stepparents / 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 / stepparents / guardians will be notified of this fact in a
timely manner before implementation.
Each such
notice to parents / stepparents / guardians will include a brief description of the
curriculum covered by this policy, and will inform parents / stepparents / guardians
that they may:
(1) exempt their child from any portion of the
curriculum that primarily involves human sexual education or human sexuality issues,
without penalty to the student, by sending a letter to the school principal
requesting an exemption. Any student who is exempted by request of the parent /
stepparent / guardian under this policy may be given an alternative assignment.
(2) inspect and review program instructional
materials for these curricula which will be made reasonably accessible to parents /
stepparents / guardians and others to the extent practicable. Parents / stepparents /
guardians may arrange with the principal to review the materials at the school and
may also review them at other locations that may be determined by the Superintendent
of Schools.
A parent /
stepparent / guardian who is dissatisfied with a decision of the principal concerning
notice, access to instructional materials, or exemption 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 / stepparent /
guardian a timely written decision, preferably within two weeks of the request. A
parent / stepparent / 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 / stepparent / guardian a
timely written decision, preferably within four weeks of the request. A parent /
stepparent / guardian who is still
dissatisfied after this process may send a written request to the Commissioner of
Education for review of the issue in dispute.
The
Superintendent of Schools will distribute a copy of this policy to each principal by
September 1 of each year.
Approved June 17, 1997