Newberg SD 29J pilots health curriculum; parents can preview materials and opt out

Holly (last name not provided), a district administrator leading health curriculum adoption, told the board the district has distributed pilot materials at the elementary level and arranged preview opportunities for families. Holly said the district’s plan included teacher pilots, parent preview appointments at the district office, and an opt-out process for families who do not want their children to participate.

At the elementary level, Holly said most teachers will ask families to submit opt-out forms when lessons are scheduled; she reported seeing one family opt out so far. At the secondary level, Holly said teachers have received training from one publisher and are awaiting a second publisher’s training; some families have asked for alternative lessons and “only a couple of families have asked for an alternative lesson,” she said.

Holly said printed and electronic materials are available on the district website and that full curriculum sets can be reviewed in person at the district office by appointment. She estimated that teachers would complete pilot instruction during the final trimester and that the district expects to present an adoption recommendation “by May to present to you guys in early June.”

Board members praised teacher communication and parent engagement. One board member said middle-school students have reported positive experiences with current health offerings. Holly and board members reiterated that teachers and staff will continue to communicate with families and offer preview appointments and opt-out options.

The district will track opt-out counts and bring a final recommendation to the board after pilots conclude and teachers report back in May; the committee asked staff to include opt-out totals and any requested alternative-instruction summaries in the adoption packet for the board.