Alberta Human Rights Act, Section 11.1
New Human Rights Legislation Impacts Education
Section 11.1 of the Alberta Human Rights Act comes into effect September 1, 2010, affirming in law a parent's ability to have their child excluded, without academic penalty, from instruction, exercises, and the use of instructional materials that deal primarily and explicitly with religion, sexuality, or sexual orientation.
The implementation of this new legislation requires that school boards notify parents when students will be receiving instruction that includes subject matter that deals primarily and explicitly with religion, human sexuality or sexual orientation, allowing the opportunity for a parent to have their child opt out. In such cases when a child is exempted from programming under Section 11.1, the child may either:
- a) leave the classroom or place where the instruction is taking place or where the instructional material being used for the duration of that part of the instruction; or
- b) remain in the classroom or place where the instruction is taking place without taking part in the instruction or use of instructional material.
EIPS expects this legislation should not affect the high quality of classroom instruction and discussion that are the hallmarks of our education system, nor should it compromise our curriculum or teaching practices.
The Guide to Education for the 2010-2011 school year contains information on the required notification and is posted at http://education.alberta.ca/admin/resources/guidetoed.aspx.
Information on notification and curriculum implications, as well as questions and answers for parents and the public is available on the Alberta Education website at http://education.alberta.ca/parents/role.aspx.
Watch for further correspondence on this subject from your school in the future.
Student Exemption Form
As per Section 11.1 of the Alberta Human Rights Act, parent can complete and submit the Student Exemption Form to exempt their child(ren) from a course or program of studies that includes subject matter dealing primarily and explicitly with religion, human sexuality, or sexual orientation.
This form can be used for courses, such as:
- Aboriginal Studies 10 - Theme II: Aboriginal Worldviews → religion
- Career and Life Management (CALM) → human sexuality
- Career and Technology Studies (CTS) Reproduction & Readiness for Parenting (HCS3050) → human sexuality
- Career and Technology Studies (CTS) → Developing Maturity & Independence (HSS1040) → human sexuality
- Health (Grades 4, 5 and 6) → human sexuality
- Health and Life Skills (Grades 7, 8 and 9) → human sexuality
- Religious Ethics 20 → religion
- Religious Meanings 20 → religion
- World Religions 30 → religion
