100 - General Administration
200 - Instructional Programs & Materials
300 - Students
400 - Personnel and Employee Relations
500 - Business Administration

Administrative Procedure 206

HUMAN SEXUALITY

*(Explicit Consent)

Background

Sexual health education is a required part of the Alberta Education curriculum that is included as part of Physical Education and Wellness in Grades 4-6 and Health and Life Skills in Grades 7-9 and Career and Life Management in Grades 10-12.
Young people need easy to understand, science-based facts about sexual health. These facts help them make informed decisions that support their personal well-being and the well-being of others.
In recognition of the primary role of parents to teach their children about sexual health, the School requires explicit consent which means that parents opt-in rather than opt-out their children for sexual health education at school. Students will be exempted from sexual health education at school unless the parent/guardian provides written consent for their child’s participation.

Procedures

  1. As per section 58.11 of the Education Act, the following are requirements:                                                                                 1.1Provide notice to, and seek the consent of, a parent of a students, where courses, programs of study or instructional materials, or instruction or exercises, include subject matter that deals primarily with and explicitly with religion or human sexuality.
    • 1.1.1 Form 206-1 – Parental Notification Form for schools and parents for use in administering this Administrative Procedure is provided.
    • 1.1.2 Form 206-2 – Parental Opt-In Form for schools and parents for use in administering this Administrative Procedure is provided.
    • 1.2 Notice shall be provided at least 30 days before the start of a course, program of study or instruction, or the first use of instructional materials or an exercise referred to section 1.1. above.
      • 1.2.1 This notice is to be provided in writing, and may be contained in course registration, course outlines, course descriptions or direct written communication to parents.
    • 1.3 No teacher shall permit a student to take part in a course, program of study or instruction, or use instructional materials or an exercise, referred to the section 1.1 above, unless the parent of the student has, before the start of the course program of study or instruction, or before the first use of the instructional materials or exercise, provided consent for the student to do so in accordance with this administrative procedure.
    • 1.4 Where no consent has been provided under this section in respect of a student, the teacher shall arrange for alternate instruction or supervision for the student outside the classroom or place where the course, program of study or instruction will take place, or the instructional materials or exercises will be used.
    • 1.5 This section does not apply to incidental or indirect references to gender identity, sexual orientation or human sexuality in a course program of study, instruction or exercises or in the use of instructional materials.
    • 1.6 Teachers and school administrators are required to exercise their professional judgment to determine when notice is to be provided to parents and to handle complaints or concerns raised by parents.

2. Parents must provide informed, written consent for their children to participate in the instructional program. Parents may choose to give consent or to exempt their children for all or any part of the human sexuality instruction. There is no academic penalty for not participating.
3. The Principal shall ensure parental consent for all students participating in the human sexuality instruction. Any student who does not have signed parental consent will be exempted and alternate learning experiences shall be provided in a location separate from the human sexuality instruction.
4. Teachers may consider using guest speakers to support sexual health education in the classroom. Information presented by guest speakers must meet all the same standards, goals and curriculum requirements as content presented by a teacher. If a guest speaker is coming to the classroom, the Principal shall ensure that parents are notified.
5. The materials and resources for Human Sexuality must be available for parents to review prior to the instruction. Only those resources approved by the Minister of Education are approved for instruction in human sexuality.

 

References: Section 11, 18, 25, 26, 32, 33, 41, 52, 53, 58, 58.11, 58.12, 196, 197, 222, 225 Education Act Alberta Bill of Rights Alberta Human Rights Act
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms,  Human Rights,  Guide to Education ECS to Grade 12

 

Adopted:August 2024

Reviewed/Revised: October 2025