The Alberta government’s plan to require parents to sign up for sex education for their children in schools is upsetting some parents and satisfying others.

The United Conservative Party government tabled Bill 27, the Education Amendment Act, on Thursday.

If the legislation passes, parents would have to opt out of any lesson that deals primarily with human sexuality, gender identity or sexual orientation, and the education ministry would vet any third-party resources or speakers that relate to those topics.

Parents can already opt out under current law, which only requires one notification. The proposed rules would require school boards to give parents at least 30 days’ notice, enough information to make an informed decision and the opportunity to attend all or part of the lesson. However, transmission of references to sexuality would not require parental notification.

Premier Danielle Smith said parents should be fully informed about what is happening in classrooms so they can talk to their children about it.

“That’s what we’ve heard from parents that they want, and that’s what we’re going to deliver,” she said Thursday.

Some parents agree with the prime minister, saying they want to be more informed about what their children are learning in this area.

“I’m going to be more aware and involved in their education,” said Geraldine Balao, an Edmonton parent who said she loves the bill.

“I’d like to see what they actually teach in sex education,” said Leila Saleh, another Edmonton parent who has three school-age children.

Parents who opposed the change told CBC News they believe it could lead to fewer students learning basic life lessons, including ways to protect against sexually transmitted infections and prevent pregnancy.

“It’s additional action on something that I think should be available to all of our kids because it’s important information for them,” said Erica Shield, who has two daughters in elementary school in Calgary.

Edmonton’s Carrie Vos also disagrees with the change.

“The opportunity to opt out is already there, and I think you already have a choice,” she said.

The government also proposes to prioritize in-person legal training and force teachers, principals and other school staff to notify parents if their children under 18 use new names or pronouns. School staff should obtain parental consent to use a new name and pronouns if the student is under 16.

School boards should ensure that students get help if they ask for it or if the pronoun notification process is expected to lead to emotional or psychological harm.

Opposition from associations

Associations representing teachers and parents’ council members say the changes announced by the government are unpopular with their members.

Members of the Alberta Teachers’ Association passed a resolution at their annual representative meeting in May saying “notice and permission regarding human sexuality” is not required.

ATA president Jason Schilling said having parents participate and the ministry vetting all sex education resources would burden already overwhelmed teachers and have a chilling effect in classrooms.

The president of the Alberta School Boards Association also said his members do not support Bill 27.

“That became really loud and clear for us at the AGM,” said Ken Glazebrook.

Edmonton Public Schools administrators plan to discuss a motion next week urging school board associations to plead with the education minister to maintain the opt-out system and respect school boards’ autonomy over sexual orientation and gender identity policies.

Trustee Trisha Estabrooks, former board president, said she has received an overwhelming amount of e-mails and phone calls expressing concern about the sign-up system and problems with pronoun notification.

“This is some of the most regressive legislation in this country,” she said Friday.

Parents are not engaged: sex educator

Pam Krause, president and CEO of the Center for Sexuality, said children want their parents to be a part of sex education in their lives, but parents often feel unequipped and avoid these conversations.

“I’m all for parents being super engaged, but that hasn’t been our experience,” she said.

Krause, whose organization runs workshops in schools, said forgotten forms could mean students aren’t learning about healthy relationships, consent and sexual health.

The minister defends the bill

Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides defended the obligation for parents to accept during an interview with CBC Edmonton AM friday morning

“The main reason behind this change is to help ensure that there is more clarity, transparency and more awareness about the topics that are being discussed regarding human sexuality,” he said.

Smith said Thursday that getting parental consent “is no more complicated than getting parental consent on a field trip.”