Opt Out Letter 2023/2024

Get ready for the school year

There have been so many unpopular policies passed by the State BOE from the NJDOE, its difficult to keep up. Not all districts and classrooms are the same, so it’s difficult to know how hard your own teacher, principal and superintendent will push these policies in your own school. To play it safe, you can opt your child out. Morris County Mom’s for Liberty shared this well thought out extensive, opt-out form for you to use and modify for the 2023/2024 school year.

Please read below and feel free to modify as you see fit for your own child.

---

Principal Name
School Address
Date

Dear [PRINCIPAL NAME],

I hope this letter finds you well and you are enjoying the summer. There have been concerns recently in the community about political advocacy in the schools. As a concerned parent, I am providing this letter for my child, child’s name, while they are enrolled in the [YOUR DISTRICT] School District. I want to make sure that you know how much I support our community and want to help my [SON/DAUGHTER] achieve a high level of academic excellence. I also want to open a clear line of communication about my expectations related to controversial topics and especially politics, in the classroom.

Please find my enclosed parental Opt-Out forms for my [CHILD/CHILDREN] for the 2023-2024 school year. As the parent, it is imperative that these be added to my child’s school file and a copy be given to each of their teachers and any media center professional. Also, please advise when the list of approved instructional materials will be available and where I can locate them. Please confirm your receipt of this directive via email. We look forward to a great school year.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via email. Thank you for your time and

attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]

---

Human Sexuality/CRT/SEL Instruction Parental Non-Consent/ Opt. Out Form For the2023-2024 School Year

I, [PARENT NAME] as parent and legal guardian of [YOUR CHILD NAME], a minor child, hereby exercise my right under the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment, the U.S. Constitution and the Constitution and laws of the State of New Jersey, to direct the upbringing and education of my minor child, and hereby place school administrators on notice of the following:

1.   I DO NOT CONSENT to my child’s participation in ANY instruction or discussion on human sexuality, race, gender, gender identity, LGBTQ+, equity or social emotional learning which is derived in whole or in part from; contains information from; or references to the

following sources, including but not limited to:

A.      National Sexuality Education Standards

B.      Future of Sex Education (FoSE) Initiative

C.      Sex, Etc.

D.      GCAPP / FLASH

E.      ETR, Inc., HealthSmart, Making A Difference, Draw the Line, etc.

F.      Advocates for Youth, 3 R’s (Rights, Respect, Responsibility)

G.      Answer, The Trevor Project

H.       SIECUS: Sex Ed for Social Change, PrEP

I.        Planned Parenthood (including active videos like Roo, video library)

J.       The Human Rights Campaign, The Kinsey Institute

K.      GLSEN (Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network)

L.      Gay Straight Alliance

M.    Guttmacher Institute

N.      Amaze.org

O.    Common Sense Media

P.    Any SEL/SEEL programs including, but not limited to, BrainPop, Sanford Harmony,

Purpose Prep, Second Steps, Edgenuity, RethinkEd, Seven Mindsets, etc.

2.   I DO NOT CONSENT to my child being given instruction or information on or being subjected to discussion of any aspect of human sexuality unless I opt-in in writing for a sexual risk avoidance / abstinence centered curriculum during Health class. Instruction, media center materials or information including the following:

A.    Abortion;

B.    Birth control/contraceptives;

C.    Sexual activity of any kind whatsoever, including, but not limited to, vaginal, oral or anal sex;

D.    Sexual orientation/sexuality of any kind

E.    Transgenderism or gender identity, questioning identities including, but not limited to, gender as social construct; gender binary; gender spectrum; gender reassignment surgery, gender dysphoria, false gender, pronouns, gender expression, or cross-sex hormones                   

F.    Any referral of my child to a counselor, medical professional, social worker, within or outside the school for purposes of discussing sexuality, or any of the topics listed herein;

G.   Any written material of; reference to; or referral to an outside agency, group, individual or

organization relating to sexuality (including, but not limited to those listed in Section 1).

H.   Any obscene or harmful to minors materials whether in print or online databases like Galileo, Gale, EBSCO etc.

I.      Any reference to or participation in a personal analysis, evaluation or survey that reveals or attempts to affect my child’s attitudes, habits, traits, opinions, beliefs or feelings concerning: political affiliations; religious beliefs or practices; mental or psychological conditions; sexual behavior or attitudes; sexual activity; sexual orientation; gender identity; or illegal, antisocial, self- incriminating or demeaning behavior;

J.     Collection of data concerning any characteristics of my child listed in paragraph 2C above,

whether collected by the school, the district, any other governmental entity, or a contractor or vendor, and whether or not such data is personally identifiable.

K.    Any advertisement of or participation in any group, organization, club, entity or activity that discusses or addresses sexual activity, sexual orientation or gender identity, under the guise of “bullying” or other rationale;

L.    Any additional instruction and discussion, including but not limited to: classroom teachers, school staff, third-party providers, YouTube or other videos, films, live streaming, other audio-visual methods, textbooks, workbooks, or handout material, including any entity listed under Section 1 or any topic listed under Section 2.

3.  I DO NOT CONSENT to my child participating in NJSLA testing

4.  I DO NOT CONSENT to my children participating in restorative justice practices of any kind without my prior knowledge including but not limited to: restorative circles, mediation or conferencing. 

I am requesting alternative academic instruction for my child during the same period that any instruction on any aspect regarding above is provided or presented. This curriculum conflicts with our conscience, sincerely held moral and religious beliefs. [YOUR CHILD’S NAME] shall be excused from these portions of the course(s) and no penalties as to grade completion shall result.

I hereby request that this notification be placed in my child’s permanent file and be provided to all people offering instruction to my child during the school year. Any instruction contrary to this notice will be the subject of further action to protect my children.

Thank you.

[YOUR NAME]

---

WE NEED YOU to Speak out, IN PERSON at the State BOE meeting on Sept 6th against all of the damaging policies passed through by the 11 people on the board. This is YOUR CHANCE to speak out on behalf of your kids.

We meet on the steps of the Department of Education at 1pm to discuss the terrible policies that are being voted in by the state BOE. If you want to speak to the board you MUST SIGN UP, they are running out of spots FAST. WE NEED MORE SPEAKERS cheering on parental rights for the health and safety of our kids!!!! Link below.

https://homeroom5.doe.state.nj.us/events/details.php?t=1;recid=43709

If you don’t want to speak you can still cheer on your fellow parents!

September 6th 1PM

Department of Education
100 Riverview Plaza
Trenton NJ 08629

click above for directions.