A Parent's Guide to School Curriculum Concerns

It can be unsettling to discover that your child is learning something in school that goes against your family’s values or beliefs. If you’re concerned about the curriculum, know that you are not alone and that there are constructive, clear steps you can take to address the issue. This guide will walk you through the process.

Understanding How School Curriculum is Chosen

Before taking action, it’s helpful to understand where the curriculum comes from. It’s rarely a single teacher’s decision. Instead, it’s a multi-layered system that usually includes state-level standards, district-wide adoptions, and finally, the individual school’s and teacher’s lesson plans.

State Standards: Most states have educational standards, such as the Common Core State Standards for Math and English Language Arts, or the Next Generation Science Standards. These are broad goals outlining what a student should know by the end of each grade. They are not a specific curriculum.
District Curriculum: Your local school district then selects or develops a specific curriculum to meet those state standards. This involves choosing textbooks from major publishers like McGraw Hill or Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, adopting specific teaching programs, and creating a scope and sequence for subjects. This is often done by a curriculum committee of teachers and administrators.
School and Teacher Implementation: The individual school and teacher then take that district-approved curriculum and create daily lesson plans. They have some flexibility in how they present the material, the supplemental resources they use, and the specific activities they plan for students.

Understanding this structure helps you know who to talk to and at what level your concern is best addressed.

Step 1: Gather Specific Information

The first step is to move from a general feeling of unease to having specific, factual information. Vague complaints are difficult for a school to address. You need to know exactly what the issue is.

Talk to Your Child: Ask open-ended questions about what they learned. Try to understand the lesson from their perspective. Ask what the teacher said, what materials they used, and what the assignment was.
Review the Materials: Ask to see the specific textbook, worksheet, video, or online resource that concerns you. If it’s a textbook, note the publisher, title, and page numbers. Read the material in its full context. Sometimes a single sentence taken out of context can be misleading.
Check the Syllabus or Class Website: Many teachers, especially in middle and high school, provide a syllabus or post lesson plans online. This can give you a broader view of the unit and the learning objectives.

Having concrete examples is the most important foundation for a productive conversation.

Step 2: Schedule a Meeting with the Teacher

Your child’s teacher should always be your first point of contact. They are on the front lines and can provide the most direct context for the lesson in question.

Request a Meeting: Send a polite email or call the school to schedule a time to talk. Avoid confronting them during busy drop-off or pick-up times.
Approach with Curiosity, Not Accusation: Start the conversation with a collaborative tone. Instead of saying, “I can’t believe you taught this,” try something like, “I’d like to better understand the lesson on [topic]. Can you help me understand the goal and the materials you used?”
Listen: Give the teacher a chance to explain their reasoning. They may be following a required district curriculum or be able to provide context that you were missing. The goal of this first meeting is to understand, not to demand.

Often, a simple conversation can clear up a misunderstanding. The teacher might explain the academic rationale, or you might find common ground.

Step 3: Know Your Rights and Options

If the conversation with the teacher doesn’t resolve your concerns, you have further options. This is where understanding your specific rights as a parent becomes crucial.

Parental Rights Vary by State: There is no single national law that governs all curriculum disputes. Your rights are primarily defined by your state and local school district policies. Some states have a “Parents’ Bill of Rights” that explicitly outlines what you can and cannot do. Search for your state’s Department of Education website to find these policies.
Opting Out: Many districts have policies that allow parents to “opt out” their children from specific lessons, most commonly related to health and sex education. This right is usually very limited in scope. You typically cannot opt your child out of core subjects like math, science, or history because of a general disagreement. The process usually requires a formal written request.
Federal Protections: One key federal law is the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA). This law gives parents the right to review, and in some cases opt out of, federally funded surveys or instructional materials that deal with highly sensitive topics like political affiliations, mental health, sexual behavior, or religious practices.

Step 4: Escalate Your Concerns Respectfully

If you feel the issue is significant and unresolved, there is a formal chain of command you can follow.

Meet with the School Principal: The principal is the instructional leader of the school. Present your specific concerns, the materials you’ve reviewed, and the outcome of your conversation with the teacher. They can offer a broader school-wide perspective.
Contact the District Curriculum Director: If the issue is with a district-adopted textbook or program, the next step is to contact the person at the district office in charge of that subject area, often called a “Curriculum Coordinator” or “Director of Instruction.”
Address the School Board: School board meetings are open to the public and have a designated time for public comment. This is a formal venue to voice your concerns to the elected officials who set district policy. To be effective, keep your comments brief, specific, and focused on policy.

Step 5: Consider Long-Term Alternatives

If you find that your family’s educational philosophy is fundamentally at odds with the public school system, you may want to explore alternative educational options.

School Choice: Depending on your state, you may have options to transfer to another public school, a charter school, or a magnet school that might be a better fit.
Private School: Private and parochial schools have their own curriculum and are not bound by the same state and district requirements, offering a wide range of educational philosophies.
Homeschooling: This option provides parents with the ultimate control over their child’s curriculum and learning environment.

Navigating curriculum concerns requires patience and a commitment to constructive dialogue. By gathering facts, communicating respectfully, and understanding the system, you can be an effective advocate for your child’s education.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between “curriculum” and “standards”? Standards are the destination; they are the broad goals of what a student should know and be able to do at a certain grade level. The curriculum is the vehicle; it’s the specific set of textbooks, lessons, and materials used to get them to that destination. You can have different curriculums that all aim to meet the same standards.

Can I request that a book be removed from the school library? Yes, you can request it, but there is a formal process. Most school districts have a “reconsideration” or “challenge” policy. You typically need to fill out a form detailing your specific objections to the book. A committee of educators, librarians, and sometimes parents will then review the book and your complaint to make a decision based on established district policy.

Are teachers allowed to share their personal political or social opinions in class? Generally, public school teachers are expected to remain neutral on controversial political and social issues. Their role is to teach the approved curriculum and help students develop critical thinking skills, not to persuade them to adopt a specific viewpoint. School district policies usually outline the professional expectations for teacher conduct in this area.