Karen
England shares:
Alameda Unified School District is violating federal law on parental rights, Capitol Resource Institute
has discovered, with its new mandate on pro-homosexuality curriculum.
The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment
(20 U.S.C. § 1232h) governs any survey, analysis, or evaluation given to students.
Parents must be
both notified and given the opportunity to opt-out, if the evaluation deals with topics such as:
·
Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or the student's parent;
· Sex behavior or attitudes;
· Religious
practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or student's parent; and more.
"Alameda's new curriculum
requires written and verbal expression of student ideas, with a clear intent to evaluate whether students endorse homosexuality.
It is intolerant of traditional views on human sexuality," said Karen England, Executive Director of Capitol Resource
Institute.
"This curriculum also puts teachers in an awkward position. They're forced to teach that
traditional views are bigoted, even if they hold traditional views," England said.
Alameda Unified receives
federal funds from the federal Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act, under Title IV of No Child Left Behind. According
to the superintendent's office, these funds mandate a district program on school safety and bullying prevention.
Accepting these funds, however, also makes Alameda subject to the Pupil Rights Amendment.
Parents of Alameda
students repeatedly pointed out that the district's new curriculum fails to address bullying on the bases of race and religion.
Every school district should protect students from harassment, but more is going on at Alameda Unified. This
district is pushing a political agenda -- and ignoring parents' requests to exempt their own children from the curriculum,
even when those children are five and six years old.
Thanks to a 31 year old federal policy, however, Alameda
parents can demand an opt-out.
ALAMEDA RESIDENTS
If you live in Alameda, please contact the U.S. Department
of Education and ask them to enforce the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment in your school district.
Family
Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20202-8520
202-260-3887
