New parent group seeks transparency in children’s curriculum

By Michael Hernandez

THOUSAND OAKS—The California Parent Alliance (CPA) is a new parent organization that is “seeking transparency in our children’s curriculum” while mobilizing and educating “families on matters of education.”

The CPA parent orientation highlights the California Healthy Youth Act (AB329) which is the Comprehensive Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Prevention Education Act that “authorizes school districts to provide comprehensive sexual health education, consisting of age-appropriate instruction, in any of kindergarten and grades 1-12.”

 According to the California Parent Alliance, AB329’s requirements include:

• Sexual education, including gender identity curriculum, mandated once in middle school and once in high school;
• Parental notice for sex education is mandated by law;
• Parents are allowed to opt their children out of most requirement of sex education if they submit their request in writing;

(Note:  Conejo Valley Unified School District has had an “opt-in” provision despite California requiring an “opt-out” that is being changed according to a June 19^th statement made by Superintendent Mark McLaughlin at the last board school board meeting of the year.  See link for full statement:

http://conejovalleyobserver.org/cvusd-superintendent-changes-sex-ed-from-opt-in-to-opt-out-without-a-board-vote/).

CPA claims that the state framework does not require:

• Sex education and gender identity curriculum as mandatory for students in K-6, though it is recommended;
• The sex education requirement to teach “gender, gender expression, gender identity and to explore the harm of negative gender stereotypes” is exempted from the opt-out laws (and any other program or subject with this material) unless a school board passes a policy that allows it;
• “A school district may provide comprehensive sexual health education or HIV prevention education consisting of age appropriate instruction earlier than grade seven using instructors trained in the appropriate courses.”

The California Parent Alliance has expressed concern over recent resolutions passed by both the national and state unions representing teachers.  They include:

• The National Education Association approval at its national convention of a resolution that supports the “fundamental right to abortion under Roe v. Wade and also teaching the concept of “white fragility” (which “is produced by white supremacy culture”); and
• The California Teachers Association October 2017 support for the passing of

SB239 which states that intentionally inflicting someone with the HIV virus is no longer a felony.

(Editor’s Note:  The California Parent Alliance launched eight weeks ago in Conejo Valley and meets weekly at different locations.  Their next meeting is Thursday, August 1^st (6:30 p.m.) at the Newbury Park Casa de la Senda Community Clubhouse, 3780 Cabrillo Blvd. For more information contact President Tim Cooley, who can be reached at [email protected] or by calling 805-732-7277.  The website is https://californiaparentalliance.org.)

Michael Hernandez, Co-Founder of the Citizens Journal—Ventura County’s online news service, founder of History Makers International—a community nonprofit serving youth and families in Ventura County, is a former Southern California daily newspaper journalist and religion and news editor.  He has worked 25 years as a middle school teacher.   Mr. Hernandez can be contacted by email at [email protected].

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