Policies » Section I: Instruction » IHAM: Health Education And Exemption From Instruction

Policy Date: 12/04/2024

CSD File: IHAM
CANDIA SCHOOL DISTRICT
HEALTH EDUCATION AND EXEMPTION FROM INSTRUCTION

Consistent with Department of Education requirements, health and physical education, including
instruction about parts of the body, reproduction, and related topics, will be included in the
instructional program.

Instruction must be appropriate to grade level, course of study, and development of students and must
occur in a systematic manner. The Superintendent will require that faculty members who present this
instruction receive continuing in-service training, which includes appropriate teaching strategies and
techniques. Any faculty member who has not received the necessary in-service training will not present
this instruction.

The Candia School District recognizes that this instruction may include topics that parents/guardians
may find to be of a sensitive nature. In seeking to acknowledge this and in accordance with NH RSAs,
the district will provide prior notification to parents/guardians.

Parents/guardians shall be notified by e-mail, other written means, or phone call, no less than two
weeks prior to the use of instructional materials and/or formal classroom instruction/discussion related
in any manner to health education, human sexual education, human sexuality, gender and any other
related topics and that the material is available for inspection at the school. The notice will identify and
provide contact information for the member of staff or faculty whom a parent or guardian should
contact to arrange an opportunity to inspect the curriculum course material. Such materials will be
made reasonably accessible to parents/guardians and others.

Opt-Out Procedure and Form

Parents/guardians, who do not want their child to participate in a particular unit of classroom
instruction pertaining to health education, human sexual education, human sexuality, gender, and/or
any other related topics have the legal right to have their child opt-out of such instruction.

Parents/guardians who wish to exercise their legal right to have their child opt-out of such instruction
are required to complete the district opt-out form and state the particular unit of curriculum in which
the student is not to participate. Any student who is exempted by request of the parent/guardian
under this policy may be given an alternative assignment sufficient to meet state requirements for
health education. The alternative assignment will be provided by the health or physical education
teacher in conjunction with Principal.

Parents/guardians who do not want their child to participate in a particular unit of instruction pertaining
to health education, human sexual education, human sexuality, gender, and any other related topics
must complete a Health Education Opt-Out Form. Opt-Out Forms are available from either the health
education teacher or the Principal.

Opt-out requests must be submitted annually and are valid only for the school year in which they are
submitted.

Adopted: May 7, 2009
Revised: February 1, 2018, December 4, 2024

Legal References:
NH Admin Rules, Sec. Ed 306.40, Health Educations Program, and 306.41 Physical Education Program,
RSA 186:11, IX-c, IXe Notice to Parents/Guardian Required, RSA 186:11, IX-b, Health and Sex
Education, Protection of Pupil Rights 90 U. S. C. 1232 (c) (1) (C)
Appendix IHAM-R, Health Education Exemption: Opt-Out Form