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Administrative Procedure 207: Exemption from Instruction

Legal References

Education Act; R.R.O. Reg. 298 Operation of Schools - General; Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (Section 15); Ontario Human Rights Code
 

Related References

Ministry of Education Policy/Program Memorandum (PPM) 162 Exemption from Instruction Related to the Human Development and Sexual Health Expectations in The Ontario Curriculum: Health and Physical Education, Grades 1-18, 2019; The Ontario Curriculum: Health and Physical Education, Grades 1-8, 2019; Form 207A Exemption Form
1.0 Background
The Ontario Ministry of Education released PPM 162 on August 21, 2019 regarding exemption from instruction related to the Human Development and Sexual Health Expectations in The Ontario Curriculum: Health and Physical Education, Grades 1-8, 2019. The purpose of the memorandum was to inform school boards that they must develop and implement a policy or procedure that allows for students to be exempted, at the request of their caregivers, from instruction related to the Human Development and Sexual Health expectations found in Strand D of The Ontario Curriculum: Health and Physical Education, Grades 1-8, 2019. Caregiver(s) refers to parent(s)/guardian(s) throughout this Administrative Procedure.

2.0 Conditions for Exemption from Instruction Related to the Human Development and Sexual Health Expectations (Grades 1-8)

2.1 For students to be exempted from instruction on an individual basis, the following conditions will apply:
    1. Exemptions are limited to instruction related to the Human Development and Sexual Health expectations found in Strand D of The Ontario Curriculum: Health and Physical Education, Grades 1–8, 2019. Students will not be exempted from instruction related to any other expectations in this curriculum or related to expectations in other curriculum subjects;
    2. Exemptions will be granted only for instruction related to all the Human Development and Sexual Health expectations in a student’s grade and not for instruction related to selected expectations or groups of expectations;
    3. References to human development and sexual health made by teachers, board staff, or students outside the intentional teaching of content related to the Human Development and Sexual Health expectations are not included in the exemption policy/procedure;
    4. There will be no academic penalty for an exemption; and,
    5. There will be no assessment, evaluation, or reporting of exempted students’ achievement of Human Development and Sexual Health expectations in their particular grade. Exempted students’ grade in health and physical education will be determined based on the overall expectations in Strand D of the curriculum, without consideration of the specific expectations under Human Development and Sexual Health.
3.0 Notice and Communications

3.1 Every elementary school is required to:
    1. Notify all caregivers at least twenty (20) school days before the start of the period of instruction related to the Human Development and Sexual Health expectations to inform them that they can choose to have their child or children exempted from instruction;
    2. Provide all caregivers with the Information Letter (Appendix A), list of all Human Development and Sexual Health expectations by grade and an Exemption Form (Form 207A);
    3. Inform caregivers that Form 207A must be returned prior to the planned instruction in order for their child to be exempted from instruction; and,
    4. Make clear that, in the case of an unforeseen event, schools have the authority to move the period of instruction to a later date in the school year and must give notice of the change to caregivers as soon as reasonably possible.
4.0 Process

4.1 Every elementary school will allow students to be exempt from instruction related to the Human Development and Sexual Health expectations without academic penalty when a request for an exemption has been made from a caregiver in writing.

4.2 Classroom teachers and/or principals will acknowledge the receipt of exemption forms from caregivers.

5.0 Supervision of Exempted Students

5.1 Every elementary school will offer the following options for supervision of students:
    1. To remain in the classroom during the exemption period without taking part in instruction in Human Development and Sexual Health, and to be assigned work or activities by the teacher that are unrelated to Human Development and Sexual Health;
    2. To leave the classroom for the duration of the instruction and remain in the school under supervision. The student’s activities during the exemption period will be at the discretion of the teacher or principal. The supervision of the student will be determined by the principal; or,
    3. To be released into the care of the caregiver or the caregiver's approved designate.
6.0 Roles and Responsibilities

6.1 Caregivers are the primary educators of their children with respect to learning about values, appropriate behaviour, and ethno-cultural, spiritual, and personal beliefs and traditions, and are their children’s first role models. 
6.1.1 Caregivers must be informed of the school board policy/procedure that allows for students to be exempted, at their caregivers’ request, from instruction related to the Grade 1-8 Human Development and Sexual Health expectations.
6.1.2 Caregivers must submit a completed, signed Exemption Form (Form 207A) one (1) week prior to the planned instruction so that appropriate planning can be organized for their child.

6.2 Teachers are responsible for using appropriate and effective teaching strategies to help students achieve the health and physical education curriculum expectations.
6.2.1 To increase their comfort level and their skill in teaching health and physical education and to ensure effective delivery of the curriculum, teachers are expected to reflect on their own attitudes, biases, and values with respect to the topics they are teaching and seek out current resources, mentors, and professional development and training opportunities, as necessary.
6.2.2 Teachers will communicate with all caregivers at least twenty (20) school days before the start of the period of instruction related to the Human Development and Sexual Health expectations.
6.2.3 Teachers will provide each caregiver the information letter and Exemption Form (Form 207A), allowing caregivers to submit a written request for exemption from instruction related to the Grade 1-8 Human Development and Sexual Health Expectations in Strand D.
6.2.4 Teachers will acknowledge receipt to each caregiver who submits an Exemption Form (Form 207A).
6.2.5 Teachers will collaborate with principals to provide the supervision choice as indicated by the caregiver for students who are exempted from instruction.

6.3 Principals will work in partnership with teachers and caregivers to provide support for the successful implementation of the health and physical education curriculum by emphasizing the importance of the curriculum within the framework of a healthy, safe, inclusive and accepting school.
6.3.1 Principals will support classroom teachers in providing the required communication to inform caregivers about possible exemption from instruction related to the Grade 1-8 Human Development and Sexual Health expectations.
6.3.2 Principals will collaborate with classroom teachers to provide the supervision choice as indicated by the caregiver for students who are exempted from instruction.
 
Appendix A - Information Letter (please see pdf)
 
Revised March 2025