A new policy from Seattle Public Schools (SPS) regarding the teaching of an LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum is stirring significant conversation among local families and has made headlines across the nation as of Friday. This policy, implemented in Washington’s largest school district, has come under scrutiny as parents discover that they cannot opt their children out of specific lessons. The Seattle school district asserts that it is merely adhering to state law.
According to state regulations, parents and guardians are permitted to review textbooks and other classroom materials, and they can appeal decisions about instructional content to the district’s instructional materials committee.
The SPS website indicates that LGBTQ-inclusive instruction can occur at any grade level without prior notification to Seattle families. This comes in the wake of a recent Supreme Court ruling which allowed a group of parents in another state to opt out of similar teachings, which include topics like acknowledging Pride Month and discussing LGBTQ+ history, along with terminology such as “transgender” and “gender identity.”
Parents do have the option to exempt their children from sexual health lessons, which begin in grade 4. Washington state law mandates sexual health education, and these lessons are designed to be age-appropriate, covering topics such as:
– Grades 9-12: Dating and relationships, pregnancy prevention, disease prevention, and online safety
– Grades 4-5: Puberty and HIV/AIDS
– Grades 6-8: Healthy relationships, reproduction, contraception, and disease prevention
However, the SPS website clarifies that students cannot opt out of certain LGBTQ+-inclusive instruction, which includes:
– Displaying posters or flags supporting the LGBTQ+ community.
– Acknowledging pride month or teaching LGBTQ+ history.
– Using terms like “transgender” or “gender identity”
– Books with LGBTQ+ characters
– Discussing bullying prevention
– Sharing pronouns
– Answering student questions
A 30-day notice is required for parents to opt out, and lessons are available for family review. The Supreme Court recently evaluated a similar policy from a Maryland school district, ruling in the case of Mahmoud v. Taylor that a group of parents could opt their children out of lessons that involved books with LGBTQ+ characters for religious reasons.
The state superintendent’s office has refrained from commenting specifically on the SPS policy. However, a spokesperson stated that the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) believes “students receive the most well-rounded education when they see themselves and their peers reflected in their curriculum.”
