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Curriculum » Exemptions Overview

Exemptions Overview

Exemptions from the Elementary Family Life program lessons that address the Human Development and Sexual Health Expectations in the Health and Physical Education curriculum.

The Family Life program sponsored and developed with the approval of the Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario, in collaboration with educators and families, addresses the human development and sexual health expectations in the 2019 Health and Physical Education Curriculum, Grades 1-8. The Family Life program is consistent with our Catholic teachings, appropriate within the context of our Catholic classrooms, and complementary to the efforts of parents to guide their children to full Christian maturity.  

In Grade 1, the expectations in the Health and Physical Education curriculum related to human development and sexual health are only addressed through the Blessed and Beloved Family Life program, most specifically in Unit Four – Life and Love in Christ (Lessons 2, 3, and 4). 

In Grades 2-8, the expectations in the Health and Physical Education Curriculum related to human development and sexual health are only addressed through the Fully Alive Family Life program, most specifically in Theme Three – Created Sexual: Male and Female.

Parents and guardians are the primary educators of their children and as such, they may choose to withdraw their children from the Family Life program lessons that address the human development and sexual health expectations in the Health and Physical Education curriculum upon written request to the school principal, as per the procedure (taken from PPM 162 – Exemption from Instruction related to the human development and sexual health expectations in The Ontario Curriculum:  Health and Physical Education, Grades 1-8, 2019) that follows.

  1. Notice and Communication
    At the beginning of each school year, the school will make parents/guardians aware of the Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario online resources (https://iceont.ca/new-family-life-education-curriculum-and-support-resources/ ) related to the current 2023 Family Life Education curriculum.

    Upon written request, the school principal will provide a print copy of the resources related to the Family Life Education curriculum to parents/guardians, without access to the online resources.

    Schools will notify parents twenty (20) school days in advance of the teaching of the lessons in the Family Life program (start and end dates) that address the human development and sexual health expectations and inform parents that they may choose to have their child exempted from these lessons by completing and returning the corresponding “Parent/Guardian Request for Exemption from Instruction” form for each child within five (5) school days of the period of instruction.

    In the case of an unforeseen event that impairs the school’s ability to administer the period of instruction as indicated, schools have the authority to move the period of instruction to a later date and give notice of the change to the period of instruction as soon as reasonably possible.

  2. Process
    Students will be exempt from the lessons in the Family Life program that address the human development and sexual health expectations without academic penalty when a “Parent/Guardian Request for Exemption from Instruction” form for each child is signed by the parent/guardian and returned within five (5) school days of the period of instruction.

    The school will give acknowledgement of the exemption form via letter by the school principal within two (2) school days of the start of the lessons in the Family Life program that address the Human Development and Sexual Health Expectations.

    School principals will make the final decision about whether to accept or reject a request that does not fall within the parameters of the memorandum (e.g., exemption form returned after submission date or during period of instruction, form not signed by parent/guardian, etc.)

  3. Supervision of Exempted Students
    Parents/guardians will be given the choice of how their exempted child will be supervised during the exemption period.  Parents/guardians must choose ONE of the following options for their child and indicate it on the “Parent/Guardian Request for Exemption from Instruction” form:
    • Remain in the classroom during Unit Four: Life and Love in Christ (Lessons 2, 3, and 4) instruction.  I understand that the work/activity my child/ward will complete during the exemption period will be at the discretion of the teacher and unrelated to Unit 4: Life and Love in Christ (Lessons 2, 3, and 4).
    • Leave the classroom and remain in the school under staff supervision.  I understand that my child/ward’s activities during the exemption period will be at the discretion of the teacher or principal and that supervision will be determined by the school according to LDCSB policy.
    • Be released into my care or the care of my approved designate, as indicated here.