AP 311: Human Sexuality, Gender Identity and Sexual Health Education
Organization & Culture
Background
Principals ensure that staff uphold the legislative rights of parents as primary decision-makers in their children's education. In accordance with the Education Act, this Administrative Procedure delineates the Division's expectations and obligations regarding the delivery of instruction, or the use of instructional materials, that deal primarily and explicitly with gender identity, sexual orientation, or human sexuality, and refers to instruction or materials where gender identity, sexual orientation, or human sexuality constitutes the main focus and intent, as opposed to incidental or peripheral references. It is the expectation of the Superintendent that all staff comply fully with the requirements of this procedure and respect the role of parents in determining their child's participation in this subject matter.
Sexual health education is a required part of Alberta’s provincially mandated curriculum, integrated within Physical Education and Wellness and explicitly addressed in Health and Life Skills and Career and Life Management (CALM 20) programs. It is mandated as part of Health and Life Skills program in Grades four through six, through the Health and Personal Life Skills Program in grades seven through nine, and as part of Career and Life Management (CALM 20) for students in grades ten through twelve as well as in select Career and Technology Studies courses. The Alberta Education curriculum identifies specific learning goals for each grade level. These curricula are designed to equip students with essential life skills, promoting informed decision-making and personal responsibility regarding sexual health as a vital aspect of overall life management and future planning.
Definitions
For the purposes of this Administrative Procedure:
a) Alternate Instruction: shall refer to any educational activity provided to students who do not participate in human sexuality instruction due to lack of parental consent, designed to maintain instructional engagement without addressing restricted subject matter.
b) External Presenter: shall refer to any individual or organization that is not part of the school's employed staff and is invited to deliver instruction, workshops, or presentations related to human sexuality or associated topics.
c) Human Sexuality Instruction: shall refer to any planned educational content that deals primarily and explicitly with topics related to sexual development, sexual health, relationships, reproductive systems, consent, gender identity, or sexual orientation.
d) Instructional Material: shall refer to any text, media, presentation, or external resource used to deliver such content.
e) Ministerial Approval: shall refer to the requirement that specific instructional resources or external presenters be reviewed and approved by the Minister of Education or their delegate in accordance with Alberta Education policy.
f) Notification: shall refer to the process used by the school to communicate the upcoming activity between home and school in a manner determined by the school.
g) Opt-in Consent: shall refer to explicit, written authorization from a parent or guardian, provided prior to a student's participation in any applicable instruction. This process may include the use of an opt-in form, and may be provided once, annually, for all considered lessons.
h) Parent: shall refer to a parent or guardian as defined in the Family Law Act in Part 1: Establishing Parentage.
Parental Notification Requirements:
1. The Principal shall ensure that written notification is provided to parents/guardians no less than 30 calendar days in advance of any planned instruction, or use of instructional materials, that addresses subject matter dealing primarily and explicitly with gender identity, sexual orientation, or human sexuality.
2. Notification shall be issued in a manner that is reliable and accessible to parents; notification may include:
2.1. Physical forms sent home with students,
2.2. Electronic communication via email,
2.3. Publication via secure parent portals.
3. The notification shall include (at a minimum):
3.1. The description of the unit, lesson(s), activity, or resource(s);
3.2. The anticipated date(s) of delivery;
3.3. The specific grade level(s) impacted; and
3.4. The instructions for the opt-in consent process.
Parental Consent or Alternate Learning Activities
4. Students may only participate in instruction or activities governed by this procedure upon receipt of express written consent from a parent or guardian; notably, the consent process shall:
4.1. Provide sufficient detail to enable an informed decision;
4.2. Allow for full or partial consent, clearly indicated by the parent; and
4.3. Where possible, offer flexible response methods (e.g., signed physical form, secure digital form).
5. Parent approval to 'opt-in' to instruction inclusive of human sexuality, gender identity and sexual orientation shall be completed annually, or updated on an as-needed basis throughout the school year, provided there is adherence to all other requirements of this procedure.
6. Students, for whom consent has not been received, shall not participate in the applicable instruction or activity, and shall, instead, be provided with alternate instruction or supervised educational activity; notably
6.1. The nature of the alternate learning activity shall be appropriate to the student's learning level and free of academic penalty, and shall not reference or include content related to human sexuality, gender identity, and/or sexual orientation; and
6.2. The nature of alternate programming shall be at the discretion of the school administration or designate and may not be subject to parental customization.
Instructional Material and External Presenter Approval
7. The Principal, or designate shall be responsible for ensuring all materials or speakers utilized have received prior Ministerial approval.
8. All instructional materials and external parties engaging in subject matter described herein shall be approved by the Minister, prior to use, and in accordance with Alberta Education's Provincial Resource Review Guide and External Party Review Guide; notably
8.1. Materials or speakers that have not received prior approval shall be submitted to the Associate Superintendent, Instructional Services, for review at a minimum of 35 days prior to instruction;
8.2. The Associate Superintendent, Instructional Services, or designate shall determine whether the materials provided for approval shall be presented for Ministerial review and approval and, when in agreement, shall submit those materials accordingly; specifically
8.2.1. The Associate Superintendent, Instructional Services, or designate, in determining that materials or speakers do not warrant approval, shall work with the Principal to ensure appropriate materials or speakers are utilized;
9. With respect to instructional materials and/or presenters, the Principal shall also ensure the following with respect to resources, materials or speakers:
9.1. Resources, materials or speakers shall be appropriate for the curriculum being instructed;
9.2. Resources, materials or speakers shall be science-based and free from bias;
9.3. Resources, materials or speakers shall honour self-worth and dignity;
9.4. Resources, materials or speakers shall be considerate of personal, family and social values;
9.5. Resources, materials or speakers shall respect individual differences;
9.6. Resources, materials or speakers shall support an environment that enables students to ask questions based on their learning;
10. The teacher shall remain present for the duration of a guest speaker’s lesson; notably
10.1. Information presented by the guest speaker meets the same standards, goals and curriculum requirements as content presented by a teacher.
Record Management
11. School administration shall maintain a secure record of all parental notifications issued and all consent forms received.
12. Records shall be maintained in accordance with the Student Record Regulation and Administrative Procedure 580: Division Record Management.
Communication and Accessibility
13. The Principal or designate shall ensure that parents are informed of where and how to access this Administrative Procedure and any school-specific implementation guidelines, such as notification timelines and opt-in consent formats.
14. Upon request, schools shall provide printed copies of relevant materials to parents or guardians in a timely manner.
Non-Compliance and Complaints
15. Any complaint or concern regarding the implementation of this procedure shall be directed to the Principal in the first instance;
15.1. Should concerns remain unresolved, the concern shall be escalated in accordance with Administrative Procedure 170: Dispute Resolution.
