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Subcommittee approves opt‑out process and guidance for sensitive secondary ELA texts
Summary
The subcommittee recommended to the full school committee a district opt‑out form and supporting policy and professional development for secondary ELA texts containing racial slurs, gendered epithets or sexual content; the action follows past complaints and aims to provide alternative assignments without penalizing students who opt out.
The Legislative and Contracts subcommittee voted April 1 to send to the full committee a draft opt‑out form and supporting guidance that would allow families to request alternatives when secondary English texts contain racial slurs, gendered insults or sexual content.
Superintendent Sonia Jannol said district staff compiled a comprehensive list of grade‑6 through 12 titles and provided supporting materials so teachers can choose alternative texts or assignments that meet the same standards. "We made sure that the scope was complete when it not only came to reviewing the reading material, but also providing families with the information that they needed as well as following it up with a policy that supports this work," Jannol said.
Amanda Cotton, the district's secondary ELA instructional coach, described the rubric and checks teachers will use, citing Common Sense Media and a generative‑AI pass used during review. Cotton said alternative assignments will measure the same unit standards and "students would not be penalized" if they opt out; the opt‑out form requires a parent to specify the title and reason and triggers an alternative assignment or task.
Committee members asked about the rubric, cultural or religious content (including references described in the material as anti‑Semitic), and professional development timing. Jannol and Cotton said the district will provide PD during August and throughout the year and that the policy was vetted by Attorney St. Laurent to align with state and federal guidelines. The subcommittee approved the recommendation by roll call and will present the package to the full committee for final action.
Next steps: the policy and opt‑out form will be included on the full committee agenda; the district plans teacher PD and distribution of opt‑out forms to families before implementation.
