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Parents Encouraged to Opt-Out of Sex Ed
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Opt-Out links are provided below.
Background
From the Diocese of Austin
March 4, 2020
"As you may have heard, in October of 2019, the Austin Independent School District board approved a new Human Sexuality and Responsibility unit within their health education curriculum. At the time that this was passed, Bishop Joe Vásquez addressed the board in a letter which stated some of his concerns regarding the curriculum. While we recognize that the new curriculum is well-intentioned and has elements that seek to address challenges that our young people face, it also contains messages contrary to what the Catholic Church teaches about the dignity of the human person.
The nature of these concerns is such that parents of children in the Austin Independent School District are encouraged to opt out of all of the classes in this new curriculum, as the titles of the classes do not indicate which ones will contain morally objectionable material.
The school district has provided a process by which parents can opt out of these classes via a letter that can be found in English and Spanish on the AISD website. However, our parish would like to make it easy for parents to exercise their right to refrain from sending their children to these classes. In our bulletin this weekend, you will find a letter from Bishop Vásquez as well as a card explaining the opt out process. Families with students enrolled in AISD schools will also receive opt out instructions from their school administration.
We thank you for your attention to this important matter regarding the formation of our young people."
Opt-out information can be found on this AISD webpage or below by clicking on the appropriate link for your child's grade.
From the AISD website:
2019–20 Family Opt-out Letters
A student may be exempted (opted-out) from participation in specific or all lessons of the HSR program upon written request. Opt-out letters will be sent home three weeks before instruction.
Students who opt out will be provided with alternative instruction and shall not be punished or embarrassed in any manner for non-participation. Those interested in viewing the alternate lessons must contact individual schools for more information. Additionally, parent discussion questions are provided on the second page of the letter for those who wish to further support their students’ learning.
