6144.1 - Health Education Exemption

Teachers in County programs should be made aware of students who, because of family beliefs or extenuating circumstances, are exempt from health examination and/or health instruction. Each school should maintain a list of students who have been formally exempt.

1. Vision and Hearing Screening

Vision and hearing appraisal may be waived if the child’s parents or guardian file a statement with the principal that they adhere to the faith or teaching of a religious order and in accordance with its creeds, tenets, or principles depends for healing upon prayer in the practice of the religion.

2. Health, Family Life

Whenever any part of the instruction in health or family life education conflicts with the religious training or beliefs of the parent or guardian of any pupil, the pupil, on written request, shall be excused from that part of training which conflicts with such religious training or beliefs.

3. Sex Education

The board or superintendent shall not require pupils to attend any class in which human reproductive organs and their function and processes and/or venereal diseases are described. If classes are offered in which human reproductive organs and their functions and processes and/or venereal diseases are described, illustrated or discussed, the parents or guardian of each pupil enrolled in such class shall first be notified in writing. Opportunity shall be provided to each parent or guardian to request, in writing, that his child not attend the class. “Such requests shall be valid for the school year in which they are submitted but may be withdrawn by the parent or guardian at any time.”

Approved: May 10, 1994