California Sex Education Can Start In Kindergarten - Parents May Opt Out In Writing

By Michelle Ball, California Education Attorney for Students since 1995


There is a lot to know about just WHAT is going on in schools regarding sexual education.  If you are my age (early 40's), you remember the obligatory sex education class in junior high school (mine was in eighth grade and our teacher read us "The Princess Bride" most of the class).  Times have changed, however, and sex education is now being initiated at much younger ages.  How young? Kindergarten, which likely encompasses four, five, and six year olds.

California Education Code section 51933 outlines the parameters for sex education in California public schools, and indicates that starting from kindergarten on up, kids may receive sexual education in the public schools.  This instruction has to be appropriate for all genders, races, and sexual orientations.  In other words, traditional sexual activities and domestic partner type of sexual activities may be instructed.

One may recall the story a while back of a class of San Francisco first graders attending the marriage of their female kindergarten teacher to another female individual.  This would probably fall under "sex education."  I don't recall ever being allowed to attend ANY wedding during school hours when I was growing up.  The story about this at World Net Daily states that two families opted not to send their children and the rest of the students attended.

Education Code 51933 states in part:

(a)  School districts may provide comprehensive sexual health education, consisting of age-appropriate instruction, in any kindergarten to grade 12, inclusive, using instructors trained in the appropriate courses.
(b)  A school district that elects to offer comprehensive sexual health education... shall satisfy all of the following criteria:
1)  Instruction and materials shall be age appropriate
2)  ...medically accurate and objective...
...
4)  [S]hall be appropriate for use with pupils of all races, genders, sexual orientations, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and pupils with disabilities....

The code goes on, but these are the only sections I want to cover herein.  There are other codes covering AIDS/HIV instruction which I will leave for another day.  Needless to say, all types and forms of sexual activities may be instructed starting when kids enter school.  According to a 2003 survey entitled "Sex Education in California Public Schools," ninety-six percent (96%) of schools surveyed indicated they provide sex education.

Parents have a right, per California Education Code 51938 to excuse their child from sex ed instruction.  Parents must do so in writing.

Some food for thought, especially for parents of young students.

Best,

Michelle Ball
Education Law Attorney
LAW OFFICE OF MICHELLE BALL
717 K Street, Suite 228
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-444-9064
Fax: 916-444-1209
Website: http://www.edlaw4students.com/

Blog: http://edlaw4students.blogspot.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/michelleaball

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/EdLaw4Students

Faceboook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Law-Office-of-Michelle-Ball/191273330901857

Please see my disclaimer on the bottom of my blog page. This is legal information, not legal advice and no attorney-client relationship is formed by this posting, etc. etc.!  This blog may not be reproduced without permission from the author and proper attribution of authorship.

Parents Rights in Public Schools- Sixteen Rights (And Counting) Which Parents May Not Know They Have

California Education Code 51101 has a handy list of public school parents' rights neatly packaged for use when push comes to shove in California schools.  Some of these rights may come as a surprise to parents who are being denied a simple parent-teacher conference, can't get their child's records, are denied volunteer opportunities, were never given the school policies, or are having other difficulties in the public school environment.

Section 51101 affords the following rights to California public school parents (be advised this is an abbreviated list and is paraphrased):

1)  To be "mutually supportive and respectful partners" with the school.

2)  Within a reasonable time to observe their child's current classroom(s) and/or future classrooms if transferring.

3)  To meet with the teacher(s) or principal within a reasonable time of their request.

4)  To volunteer in the school or classroom, under supervision of school employees and with approval of the teacher (if volunteering in the classroom).

5)  To be notified if their child is absent on a timely basis.

6)  To receive the results of standardized and statewide tests.

7)  To request a particular school and receive a response.

8)  To have a safe environment supportive of learning.

9)  To examine curriculum materials of their child's classes.

10)  To be informed of their child's progress and whom the parent should contact if there are problems.

11)  To access their child's school records (see also Education Code 49069 which requires provision within 5 business days).

12)  To be provided with data regarding skills and standards their child is to meet.

13)  To be informed in advance of school rules, including discipline rules and procedures, attendance policies, dress codes, and procedures for visiting the school.

14)  To be informed regarding any psychological testing the school does and to refuse the testing.

15)  To participate in parent advisory committees, schoolsite councils, or site-based management leadership teams.

16)  To question anything in their child's records with which they disagree.

Now, parents, did you know you had all these rights????  Now go out and use them.

Best,

Michelle Ball
Education Law Attorney
LAW OFFICE OF MICHELLE BALL
717 K Street, Suite 228
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-444-9064
Fax: 916-444-1209
Website: http://www.edlaw4students.com/

Blog: http://edlaw4students.blogspot.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/michelleaball

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/EdLaw4Students

Please see my disclaimer on the bottom of my blog page [http://edlaw4students.blogspot.com/]. This is legal information, not legal advice and no attorney-client relationship is formed by this posting, etc. etc.!  This blog may not be reproduced without permission from the author and proper attribution of authorship.

You Must Help Your Kids With Their Science Homework

Last week, the National Association of Educational Science (NAES) released the test results for many of our nation's children showing a distinct weakness in the sciences.  For example of 300 possible points, the average score was between 147-153.  If graded in the traditional way, this would be an "F."

You can see the report here:  http://nationsreportcard.gov/science_2009/

The United States Department of Education response is here http://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/statement-us-secretary-education-arne-duncan-release-naep-science-report-card and certainly does not make me feel more secure.

This low score evidences a few things: 1)  School instruction is not enough to advance in science, 2)  Parents need to step up and help their kids with their science homework, and 3)  Parents need to stimulate an interest in science outside the classroom via home science projects in which the child is interested.

Schools are like high speed trains which just keep going regardless of whether the passengers are hanging off the edges or falling off.  They do not stop.  So, if a student misses even one concept, e.g. in math or science, but the class has moved on, that student may never understand that concept and/or other items connected to it.  With science that can be a killer.

One area where parents could help is to follow up on items missed on science tests or homework.  If a student misses anything, parents must follow up and work with their child until they understand the item once and for all.  The schools don't take adequate time to ensure that the concepts missed are understood and parents have to fill in the gaps.  Parents can help merely by noticing what the kid got wrong (not just chastising them for a low grade) and helping them understand.

Another area where a parent can help is ensuring a child fully understands what they are reading- and I mean specifically the WORDS.  Does the student REALLY know what that science word means?  Really?  Do they actually know what a microbe looks like, what it does, where the word "microbe" came from?

Parent help with homework and in completing science projects in which a child is interested (even if not assigned as homework) would help not just the individual student, but the country as well (it would probably raise our NAES score/grade from at least an "F" to a "D" or maybe even an "A").  The schools are not the only ones responsible for advancing kids.  We, as parents, are as well.


Best,

Michelle Ball
Education Law Attorney
LAW OFFICE OF MICHELLE BALL
717 K Street, Suite 228
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-444-9064
Fax: 916-444-1209Website: http://www.edlaw4students.com/

Blog: http://edlaw4students.blogspot.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/michelleaball
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Please see my disclaimer on the bottom of my blog page [http://edlaw4students.blogspot.com/]. This is legal information, not legal advice and no attorney-client relationship is formed by this posting, etc. etc.!  This blog may not be reproduced without permission from the author and proper attribution of authorship.