I. The District curriculum shall be determined by:

A. Florida Statutes, State Board of Education rules, and the School Board;

B. Florida Department of Education developed curriculum frameworks, State Student Performance Standards and course descriptions; Continuous evaluation of curriculum effectiveness in meeting students’ needs in the District;

C. Students' needs as determined by studies, assessments, and surveys; and

D. Continuous evaluation of curriculum effectiveness in meeting students' needs in the District.

II. The Superintendent may appoint such committees and special study groups as may be necessary to assist in determining the educational needs of the District.

III. The Superintendent shall designate an appropriate staff member who is responsible for the development and coordination of the total curriculum of the District.

IV. A student’s progression from one grade to another shall be determined, in part, upon proficiency in reading, writing, science, and mathematics.

A. Any student in kindergarten through grade 3 who exhibits a substantial deficiency in reading or the characteristics of dyslexia based upon screening, diagnostic, progress monitoring, or assessment data; statewide assessments; or teacher observations shall require the school to notify affected parents, be provided intensive, explicit, systematic, and multisensory reading interventions immediately following the identification of the reading deficiency or the characteristics of dyslexia to address his or her specific deficiency or dyslexia, in accordance with F.S. 1008.25(5).

B. Any student in kindergarten through grade 4 who exhibits a substantial deficiency in mathematics or the characteristics of dyscalculia based upon screening, diagnostic, progress monitoring, or assessment data; statewide assessments; or teacher observations shall require the school to notify affected parents, provide state-approved interventions, re-assess students and adjust interventions as necessary until the students are performing on grade level, in accordance with F.S. 1008.25(6)

V. A new course or unit of study may be introduced into the District curriculum by following District guidelines.

VI. The responsibility and right of an instructional staff member to present information of a controversial nature is hereby recognized. The teacher shall not present controversial material or issues which are not directly related to the subject area being taught. In presenting controversial materials on an issue, the teacher shall present all sides of the question without bias or prejudice and shall permit each student to arrive at his/her own conclusions.

VII. A course description shall be presented for School Board approval before any course or unit in the objective study of the Bible or a comparative study of religion, as provided in Florida Statutes, is initiated in any school. The description shall detail the purpose of the course, the materials to be used, grade location, length of the course, and credit value. No teacher shall present or permit to be presented any material which ridicules any religious sect, belief, or faith.

VIII. Prior to initiating any course or unit of instruction in human growth and development, a course outline and complete course description shall be presented for School Board approval. This rule does not preclude the teaching of personal cleanliness in health and physical education classes or in the elementary grades, or the teaching of matters relating to sex, HIV/AIDS prevention or sexually transmitted diseases as provided in state-adopted textbooks, or information relating to sex as required in Family Consumer Education courses or any other course using duly-adopted textbooks and materials where the teaching of sex is an incidental part of the course.

IX. Florida Statute requires that schools make students aware of the dangers and consequences of sexually transmitted diseases. The manner, scope, and levels at which this information will be presented shall be determined by the Superintendent or designee in consultation with instructional supervisors and principal(s). Prior to initiating any such unit of instruction, the proposed program, the materials to be used, and other essential information shall be presented to the School Board for approval. When any questionable information is to be viewed by mixed groups, the students may be separated by gender for presentation of materials.

X. Schools may provide instruction in Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) education as a specific area of health education. Such instruction may include, but is not limited to, the known modes of transmission, signs and symptoms, risk factors associated with acquired immune deficiency syndrome, and means used to control the spread of acquired immune deficiency syndrome. The instruction shall be appropriate for the grade and age of the student and shall reflect current theory, knowledge, and practice regarding acquired immune deficiency syndrome and its prevention.The Superintendent or designee shall review curriculum frameworks which are prepared and distributed by the Florida Department of Education and related to AIDS education. If the curriculum frameworks are inconsistent with locally determined curriculum for AIDS education or are not reflective of local values and concerns, the Superintendent shall advise the School Board and provide recommendations for instruction activities.

XI. A student shall be exempt from instructional activities on reproductive health or any disease, including HIV/AIDS, its symptoms, development, and treatment provided his/her parent(s,) as defined by Florida Statutes, files a written request with the school principal.

XII. Instruction in Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, sexually transmitted diseases, or health education, when such instruction and course material contain instruction in human sexuality, shall be taught in accordance with Florida Statute 1003.46 and FL Department of Education Rule.

XIII. All instruction outlined in paragraphs VIII. through XIII. shall be delivered only by school-based personnel or Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County staff.

XIV. When dealing with political issues, the positions of all parties will be presented on a non-partisan basis. Partisan political literature will not be distributed in schools. However, schools may give out information relating to school district taxes or the need for construction bonds.

XV. All course materials and verbal or visual instruction shall conform to the requisites and intent of all Florida Law and the State Constitution. All instructional materials, including teachers’ manuals, films, tapes, or other supplementary instructional material, shall be available for inspection by parents of the children engaged in such classes.

XVI. The Superintendent/designee shall develop procedures to assure all aspects of curriculum development and implementation are carried out.

©EMCS
Revised: 02/20/24