20-7-120. Human sexuality instruction -- notice to parents -- excused absences -- prohibited activities, MCA

Montana Code Annotated 2025

TITLE 20. EDUCATION

CHAPTER 7. SCHOOL INSTRUCTION AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS

Part 1. Accreditation and Curriculum

Human Sexuality Instruction -- Notice To Parents -- Excused Absences -- Prohibited Activities

20-7-120. Human sexuality instruction -- notice to parents -- excused absences -- prohibited activities. (1) (a) A parent, guardian, or other person who is responsible for the care of a child may refuse to allow the child to attend or withdraw the child from human sexuality instruction. The withdrawal or refusal to attend is an excused absence pursuant to 20-5-103.

(b) A school may not allow a child to attend identity instruction unless the child's parent or guardian agrees in writing to allow the child to attend. Pursuant to 20-5-103, a child is excused from participating in identity instruction unless the child fails to attend after the parent or guardian has agreed in writing to allow the child's attendance. A school may allow a parent or guardian the opportunity to provide the agreement under this subsection (1)(b) at the beginning of a school year or semester as part of the annual notification under subsection (3) but shall allow a parent or guardian to cancel the agreement by providing written notification to the district superintendent at any time.

(2) Any school that provides human sexuality instruction or identity instruction shall adopt a policy ensuring parental or guardian notification no fewer than 5 school days or more than 14 school days prior to holding an event or assembly or first introducing materials for instructional use. Additional notifications after providing notice under this subsection are not required.

(3) Using contact information most recently provided by the parent or guardian, a school district shall annually notify in advance the parent or guardian of each student scheduled to be enrolled in a course that includes units or lessons on human sexuality instruction or identity instruction in the district or school of:

(a) the basic content of the district's or school's human sexuality instruction or identity instruction intended to be taught to the student and the option to review all curriculum materials related to human sexuality instruction or identity instruction in the course pursuant to subsection (5);

(b) the parent's or guardian's right to withdraw the student from the district's or school's human sexuality instruction; and

(c) the requirement that the parent or guardian provide written permission to allow the child to attend identity instruction.

(4) In addition to the notice required in subsection (3), a school district shall adopt a policy to ensure an annual notice is available, including an electronic link to materials or summaries of materials, consistent with copyright laws, for:

(a) the district's health enhancement curriculum, including lesson plans or other materials used for human sexuality instruction or identity instruction; and

(b) a calendar of events or assemblies at which human sexuality instruction or identity instruction will be provided.

(5) (a) A school district shall make all curriculum materials used in the district's or school's human sexuality instruction and identity instruction available for public inspection prior to the use of the materials in actual instruction.

(b) A school district shall prepare a summary of the district's health enhancement curriculum and shall review and prepare any updates to the summary each year. The summary is public information and is subject to the public's right to access information pursuant to 2-6-1003.

(6) A school district or its personnel or agents may not permit a person, entity, or any affiliate or agent of the person or entity to offer, sponsor, or furnish in any manner any course materials or instruction relating to human sexuality or sexually transmitted diseases to its students or personnel if the person, entity, or any affiliate or agent of the person or entity is a provider of abortion services.

(7) If, after investigating a violation under this section, the trustees of a district find that an individual has knowingly or repeatedly violated this section, the trustees shall report the findings to the board of public education pursuant to 20-4-110.

(8) (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms apply:

(i) "Human sexuality instruction" means instruction that has the goal or purpose of studying, exploring, or informing students about any of the following human sexuality topics: intimate relationships, sexual anatomy, sexual reproduction, sexually transmitted infections, sexual acts, abstinence, contraception, or reproductive rights and responsibilities.

(ii) "Identity instruction" means instruction that has the goal or purpose of studying, exploring, or informing students about gender identity or gender expression, or sexual orientation.

(iii) "Instruction" means the conduct of organized learning activities, including the provision of materials, for students in a public school, whether conducted by a teacher or other school staff or guests invited at the request of the school or district and regardless of the duration, venue, or method of delivery.

(b) Neither "human sexuality instruction" nor "identity instruction" includes or applies to a teacher's response to an unexpected student-initiated inquiry related to the topics under each term to the extent necessary to resolve the inquiry or to maintain civility and decorum in the classroom.

History: En. Sec. 2, Ch. 316, L. 2021; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 300, L. 2025.