I applaud the Department Draft Model Policies on Sexually Explicit Materials. The Draft policy is clearly written, provides clear and reasonable standards and scope, and is based on the existing language and definitions already present in federal and VA law governing sexually explicit materials. This law and Draft policy provide long-overdue correction to the existing practice prevalent in many VA schools of ignoring or deliberately suppressing the involvement of parents in their children's education. I applaud the Draft policy's affirmation and iteration of parents' rights to be informed of and to determine what is most appropriate for their child's age and maturity.  It is also appropriate that standards long deemed appropriate for adults in government positions be, at the very least, applicable to instructional materials for children as well.  This Draft policy is a much-needed corrective and a clear and reasonable model for ensuring that explicit materials are not snuck into curriculum but appropriately vetted and approved.  Teachers cannot know or determine in the same manner as parents what may be inappropriate or harmful to students, including students who may have experienced sexual trauma in the past and who would be harmed by materials assigned.  This Draft policy ensures that the partnership between schools, teachers and parents is active and workable.  THANK YOU.