AP 208 (formerly 8425 and procedure 8425.1) – Alternative Delivery to Physical & Health Education (K-10)
Background
The Surrey School District No. 36 (the “District”) assigns high value and importance to the need for and the goals of Physical Health Education (“PHE”). Educators are required to provide students with a well-planned and developmentally age-appropriate sequence of learning experiences in the PHE curriculum. Teaching students about their bodies, safety, and making healthy choices contributes to their physical and emotional well-being.
Governed by policy set by the BC Ministry of Education and Child Care, Physical and Health Education (K-10) is a provincially mandated requirement for all BC students. The goals of this curriculum are for students to make informed healthy decisions, to learn about themselves, to honour the diversity in others, and to help foster positive attitudes and caring behaviours for the development of healthy relationships.
Unique to this curriculum is the opportunity for parents/guardians to request “alternative delivery” of material pertaining only to the direct instruction of reproduction and sexuality.
Topics that refer to creating inclusive environments and honouring diversity (including sexual orientation and gender identity) will be integrated through several curriculum areas not related to reproduction and sexuality. District expectations for addressing these topics are outlined in the applicable administrative procedures governing safe and caring schools.
Definitions
“Sexuality” involves many aspects of being human. It encompasses, for example, sexual development (puberty and the factors which influence identity), sexual and reproductive health (preventing unplanned pregnancies and STIs), interpersonal relationships (including healthy friendships), affection (caring behaviors), and body image (self-esteem).
Procedures
| 1. | Scopea. | The purpose of this administrative procedure is to explain how students and their parents/guardians, in consultation with their school, may arrange for alternative delivery of instruction for topics related to reproduction and sexuality within the PHE curriculum.
| | b. | This administrative procedure does not apply to any other provincial curriculum
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| 2. | Alternative Delivery
a. | Both the Ministry of Education and Child Care and the District recognize the family as the primary educator in the development of children’s attitudes, standards and values. A family may choose alternative delivery to address topics of sexuality and reproduction, but Ministry of Education and Child Care policy still requires that all prescribed learning standards be addressed and assessed in a mutually agreed upon alternative manner of delivery.
| | b. | The intent of the alternative delivery process is to ensure that individual/family values, standards and diversities are respected while fulfilling Ministry of Education and Child Care requirements for curriculum delivery.
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| 3. | District/School Responsibilities
a. | When applicable, parents/guardians will be informed that there is an opportunity to request “alternative delivery” of material pertaining to the direct instruction of reproduction and sexuality.
| | b. | School staff will meet with parents/guardians who have chosen to exercise this option. The school will consult with the parents/guardians to ensure that a plan to address the content in an alternative manner is in place.
| | c. | The school will provide parents/guardians with the Alternative Delivery Request Form (Appendix A).
| | d. | Where possible and appropriate, schools will provide access to health resources which parents/guardians may use to address the identified curricular learning standards. See Health Information Resources (Appendix B).
| | e. | Once completed, the school will file the signed Alternative Delivery Request Form and place it in the student’s file as evidence of alternative delivery of identified content
| | f. | Report card comments will indicate that portions of the PHE content pertaining to sexuality and reproduction were taught by the parents/guardians outside the classroom.
| | g. | Where the Alternative Delivery Procedure was not completed by the parents/guardians, this will be reflected on the Alternative Delivery Request Form (Appendix A) and placed in the student’s file.
| | h. | Report card comments will indicate that parts of the PHE content pertaining to sexuality and reproduction were not taught by the parents/guardians as indicated on the Alternative Delivery Request form in the student’s file.
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| 4. | Parent/Guardian Responsibilities
a. | The parents/guardians must inform the school in writing if they plan to employ an alternative approach to address the direct instruction of material pertaining to reproduction and sexuality.
| | b. | The parents/guardians will complete the form for alternative delivery of reproductive and/or sexuality learning outcomes. See Appendix A for the Alternative Delivery Request Form.
| | c. | The parents/guardians, in consultation with the classroom teacher/principal, will identify the curriculum they will teach and list it on the request form. See Appendix B for suggested resources.
| | d. | The parents/guardians will record on the request form when the curriculum was covered by placing a date in the space provided.
| | e. | Once the entire list of curricula on the form has been covered, the parents/guardians will date and sign the bottom of the request form to verify that the teaching has been completed and return the form to the school.
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