Request for Student Instructional Opt-Out Based on Religious Beliefs

Pursuant to Mahmoud v. Taylor parents have the right to request to opt out of specific curriculum components if the content conflicts with a parent or family’s religious upbringing of their child pursuant to that parent or family’s sincerely held religious beliefs.

This form provides parents/guardians with the option to request that their child be excused from specific instructional content when it may conflict with a parent or family’s religious upbringing of their child pursuant to that parent or family’s sincerely held religious beliefs.  The request and district’s response is dependent upon the specific religious beliefs and practices asserted as well as the specific nature of the educational requirement or curricular feature at issue.

Each request will be reviewed by the school/district to determine the appropriate response based on the nature of the request and the instructional context.  Submitting this form does not automatically result in a student being excused from the identified content, and alternative arrangements will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All forms must be complete and submitted to the school’s principal in order to be considered.