Districts that flout new sex ed rules face discipline

Most adopted lessons according to standards

By: Mary Ann Koruth
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey

..... School districts that refuse to implement New Jersey's new sex education standards can be disciplined, the state warned after push-back from a small number of school boards and county governments.
..... Using the most direct language in months, the state Department of Education said districts that don't implement the changes to the sex and health education portion of the state's learning standards will be subject to "disciplinary action." The state also specified that parents who do not want their children to participate in these classes must write a letter to the principal explaining that the lessons contradict their personal values and beliefs.
..... The statement comes amid continuing criticism form some parents and republican lawmakers over the state's progressive approach to sex education. The vast majority of the state's 600 or so public school districts have adopted lessons according to the state's standards. The new standards must be taught beginning with the current school year. [2022-2023]
..... New Jersey Student Learning Standards are mandatory, " and failures to comply can result in disciplinary action,: according to a statement from the Department of Education. "For nay children to be excused from any part of institution in health, family life, or sex education, their parent or guardian must inform the school principal in writing that the instruction conflicts with their conscience or sincerely held moral or religious beliefs," the department said. This reinforces a statement released in July [2022] that districts that flout nay standards would be penalized.
..... Standards are minimum expectations, and the state permits school districts to implement them very broadly. Parents can also opt their children out of health classes, according to state law, but some school boards appear to be moving toward reaching this option and instead having parents "opt in" to the lessons.
..... The Lakewood School district in South Jersey officially adopted an opt-in policy, according to minutes from its Board of Education. an August 23 [2024] superintendent;s report on the district website said parents or guardians must "opt in" if they would like their child to participate in the "social and sexual Health" and "Pregnancy and Parenting" components of the health program." Students will automatically be excluded from the classes unless they complete "opt--in" forms, according to the district website.
..... The Department of Education sues the New Jersey Quality Single Accountability Continuum (NJQSAC) to track how well school districts are complying with the educational requirements. Districts evaluate themselves, and the state verifies the information they provide. districts that score below 80% in nay one of five NJQSAC areas will be required to cerate a plan for performance improvement. that could include having the state step in to monitor, according to the statement.
.... "Following the assessment, the district is placed on a performance continuum that will determine the level of oversight, and technical assistance and support it receives," the state said of non-compliant districts. The state will also determine "whether additional monitoring or intervention is warranted."
..... Some school districts have expressed their disapproval of the state's standards, but few have rejected them outright.
..... The Garwood school board passed a resolution not to adopt a curriculum that discusses some of the topics in the new sex education standards. The Sussex County Board of County Commissioners passed a "parental rights" resolution that asserts parental control over what children learn in health classes. and Sussex-Wartage regional Board of Education passed a resolution saying it "disagrees" with the state's changes to health standards.

New education standards

..... The Department of Education under Governor Phil Murphy made several changes in 2020. The changes include introducing mature sexual terms and discussions about gender in earlier grades than the previous standards.
..... Groups of parents, many politically conservative,along with some right-wing activists who support actions such as banning books, have accused the Murphy administration of overreaching by allegedly intruding into personal values. The state, on the other hand,s aid schools have tremendous leeway in how it implements standards and that they were changed to prepare children for an increasingly complex world where they are faced with mature content at an earlier age.
..... The Atlantic County Board of county Commissioners passed a resolution in May [2022] "urging Governor Murphy and the New Jersey State Department of Education to ceases from implementing their sexuality education curriculum for grammar/elementary school children and require that all kcal school boards have public meetings for public input on the sexuality education prior to implementation.

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