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Sexual and Reproductive Health Alternative Delivery Policy

Heritage Christian Online School supports parents and guardians to be actively involved with their child(ren)s education. Family guidance and input on the new curricula; Sexual Reproductive and Health, is welcomed by HCOS and also by the BC Ministry of Education. The BC Ministry of Education Alternative in the Physical and Health Education policy, states that families are allowed to choose an alternative delivery method for instruction, in consultation with the school. If students would feel more comfortable learning about these topics by other means, HCOS will endorse doing so after receiving parents’ or guardian’s permission. Please contact the course teacher to make arrangements.

For reference: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/administration/legislation-policy/public-schools/alternative-delivery-in-the-physical-and-health-curriculum

Policy:

The Physical and Health Education 10 provincial curricula include topics related to reproduction and sexuality that some students and their parents/guardians may feel more comfortable addressing by means other than instruction by a teacher in a regular classroom setting. These include learning standards outlined in the following education program guides:

  • Physical and Health Education K-9
  • Physical and Health Education 10

In such instances, students, with their parents' or guardians' consent, may arrange to address topics related to reproduction and sexuality by an alternative means. This must been arranged in consultation with their school. The alternate means must be agreed upon by the students, their parents or guardians, and the school.

The alternate delivery policy does not allow students to “opt-out” of learning about these topics. It is expected that students will, in consultation with their school, demonstrate their knowledge of the learning standard(s) have arranged to address by alternative means.

This alternate delivery policy does not apply to any other learning standards or learning outcomes in the education program guides listed above. Nor does it apply to any other British Columbia provincial curriculum.

Procedure:

Boards of Education and Independent School Authorities should have procedures in place to enable students to address learning standards covered in this policy. Procedures should also be in place to ensure that students have met these learning standards.

There are several ways in which the preferences of students and their parents or guardians regarding alternative delivery can be accommodated. The following are some examples:

  • Home instruction using a school-determined package of materials or other agreed-upon materials
  • Self-directed studies

Boards of education and Independent School Authorities may also invite parents/guardians to propose means for alternative delivery.