Opt-in sex education policies coming to Alberta classrooms this fall, province says
CBC
The Alberta government says it's moving ahead this fall with legislation that would require parents to proactively sign up to have their children opt-in, rather than the usual practice of opting out, for sex education.
It's a move that has teachers wondering what problem the province is looking to solve.
Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides, in a statement, said school boards, teachers, superintendents and parents are being consulted.
"We intend to propose legislation this fall and will continue to consult with stakeholders throughout the implementation of these policies," Nicolaides said.
It's not clear what the legislation might look like, but Premier Danielle Smith said in February it would involve parents opting-in their children to each formal lesson on sexual health.
Outside resources or presentations would also need to be pre-approved by the education ministry, Smith said.
Jason Schilling, president of the Alberta Teachers' Association, said there are a lot of unanswered questions after a spring consultation about the proposed bill.
He said sex-ed is taught using materials vetted by Alberta Health Services, and parents are already given the chance to opt their children out of the classes.
"I don't necessarily understand what was broken that needs to be fixed," Schilling said in an interview.
"When we pressed government, there was no real understanding of what this will look like."
The public school divisions in Edmonton and Calgary have said they are waiting for more information from the province.
"Requiring parents to opt in does not serve to add any additional parental control," Edmonton Public Schools board chair Julie Kusiek wrote in a letter to Smith in February.
She said sex-ed is factual and age appropriate, and an opt-in model only adds "administrative red tape" for schools.
Opposition NDP education critic Amanda Chapman said the United Conservative Party government's "bizarre" proposal creates information barriers and distracts people from issues like underfunded schools and overcrowded classrooms.
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