Maine School District Changes Policy

I am happy to report that the Portland, Maine School District has changed its previous policy regarding distribution of birth control to students as young as 11 years old without adequate notice to parents of the services that were being offered. Last month, ACLJ lawyers from our Northeast Regional Office issued a legal demand letter to the School District.  In that letter, we said that, at a minimum, parents should be notified that the student health clinic offers contraceptives. Under the previous plan that we challenged, the School Districts parental consent forms for the clinic did not include notice that reproduction services would be offered.

This week, we were informed that the School District has modified and changed its policy.  Under the new policy, parents have to sign a new consent form to opt into the program which includes clear notice that reproduction services are offered at the health clinic. The risk that parents will unknowingly consent to their child receiving contraceptives has been greatly reduced. We are pleased with the outcome of this case and with the ultimate conclusion.