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Board reviews health and family-life education policy language, affirms opt-out approach
Summary
Staff proposed minor updates to policy/administrative regulation IHAM/IHAM-R; the district reaffirmed it has historically opted out of the state curriculum model and prefers an opt-out approach that does not require parents to provide a reason.
The Elizabeth School District board reviewed policy IHAM and accompanying regulation IHAM-R, which cover health and family-life education, and discussed whether to preserve the district’s long-standing decision to opt out of the state’s recommended curriculum.
Superintendent Dan said the district “opted out of conference of *** education” long before his tenure and instead addresses human-growth topics within standard health and biology instruction. He told the board the district’s practice has been to teach body systems — respiratory, circulatory and reproductive systems — in science/health classes rather than adopting the state model.
Staff brought suggested edits from the Colorado Association of School Boards (CASB) and Colorado Leaders for Academic Success (CLASS). The major procedural choice before the board was whether parents who request an exemption must provide a justification. CLASS offers two opt-out options; staff recommended option 2, under which parents may exempt their child from specific curriculum portions without stating a reason. Board members favored the simpler opt-out language, saying it aligned with the district’s emphasis on parental rights. One director requested clearer policy language that explicitly states the district’s decision not to adopt the state model and that explains the chosen opt-out procedure.
Dan also noted operational clarifications recommended by CLASS: extend the parent-notification window from seven to ten days and change the administrative response time from two to three days; staff proposed adding an exemption form to the regulation. Board members asked staff to work with CLASS to craft explicit policy language asserting the district’s opt-out choice and to return the recommended revisions for first reading.
Ending: The board asked staff to rewrite IHAM/IHAM-R to: (1) state the district’s decision not to adopt the CLASS/state model, (2) adopt option 2 for parental opt-out without requiring a reason, and (3) include the CLASS-recommended administrative timing and an exemption form, then bring the draft back for first reading.
