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Health/PE Excusal
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:35-4.7, any child whose parent or guardian presents to the school a signed statement that any part of instruction in health, family life education, or sex education is in conflict with his or her conscience or sincerely held moral or religious beliefs shall be excused from that portion of the course (not the entire health course, only that portion or any part of instruction). Requests must be presented in a signed statement, include the specific standard for excusal, and submitted to the building principal. As with many other aspects of state-mandated curriculum, the New Jersey Legislature has not provided an option to opt out of the requirements under P.L. 2001, c. 32. Rest assured that we are implementing this curriculum in a way that is consistent with state law, that addresses universal principles such as respect and dignity for all, and that does not promote any political ideology. If you have specific questions about aspects of the curriculum, please feel free to contact us.
(BOARD OF EDUCATION POLICY 5250): The Board of Education directs that a student be excused from any part of the instructions in health education, family life education, sex education, or instruction that includes dissection of animals that the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of the student or the adult student finds morally, conscientiously, or religiously offensive. A request for excusal must be presented in a signed statement and submitted to the Principal. An excused student shall be assigned to an alternate program of independent study on a substitute topic within the health education, family life education, or sex education program. The parent's or legal guardian's right of excusal applies to any alternate program as well. No excused student will be penalized by loss of credit as a result of his/her excusal, but a student will be held accountable for successful completion of any alternate program assigned. (N.J.S.A. 18A:35-4.7)