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The curriculum and course materials of the Manchester School District are designed to meet or exceed State statutory and regulatory requirements and include other areas of study deemed appropriate by the professional staff and the Board of School Committee. 

The Board recognizes that there may be specific course materials which some parents/guardians find objectionable.

Parents and legal guardians shall be notified by e-mail, other written means, website/social media posting, or phone call not less than two (2) weeks in advance of use of the curriculum course material to be used for instruction of human sexuality or human sexual education. Upon request and if available, materials can be provided by alternative means.  The material is available for inspection at the school.  The notice will identify and provide contact information for the member of staff or faculty a parent or guardian should contact to arrange an opportunity to inspect the curriculum course material.

In the event a parent/ guardian finds specific course material objectionable, the parent/guardian may notify the building Principal of the specific material to which they object and request that the student receive alternative instruction, sufficient to enable the child to meet state requirements for education in the particular subject area.  This notification and request shall be in writing.

The building Principal and the parent must mutually agree to the alternative instruction.  The alternative instruction agreed upon must meet state minimum standards.

School District staff will make reasonable efforts, within the scope of existing time, schedules, resources and other duties, to accommodate alternative instruction for the student.   Alternative instruction may be provided by the school, through approved independent study, or through other method agreed to by the parent/guardian and the building principal.  Any cost associated with the alternative instruction shall be borne by the parent.

Nothing in this policy shall be construed as giving parents/guardians the right to appeal to the School Board.

Parents who wish for particular instructional material be reviewed for appropriateness may submit a request for review in accordance with Board Policy Instruction 118 or Instruction 151.

In accordance with the federal Protection of Pupil Rights statute, as a School District that receives federal Department of Education funds, the Superintendent shall develop procedures to allow parent/guardian of a student to inspect any instructional material used as part of the educational curriculum for the student.  The procedures will provide reasonable access to instructional material within a reasonable period of time after the request is received.

Legal References:

RSA 186:11, IX-c & IX-e State Board of Education; Duties.

20 U.S.C §1232h, (c)(1)(C), Protection of pupil rights

Revised: September 2017

New Sample Policy:  January 2012

NHSBA note, September 2017: The 2017 update adds new second paragraph requiring notice to parents and guardians in response to 2017 House Bill 103, Laws of 2017 Chapter 9 which added a requirement that advance notice of no less than two (2) weeks be given of curriculum course material to be used for instruction of human sexuality or human sexual education.  The last paragraph applies only for School Districts that receive federal funds administered by the federal Department of Education.  It addresses a requirement in the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA), that Local Education Agencies adopt a policy that permits parents to inspect instructional material.

Revised:  09/25/2018

Coordination:  09/11/2018

BOSC:  09/25/2018