Comprehensive Sexual Education Curriculum

We’d like to inform you of new education requirements for Washington schools and how this affects your child’s instruction. Senate Bill 5395, passed by the State Legislature in 2020, requires that all schools provide comprehensive sexual health education (CSHE) by the 2022–23 school year. 

Beginning in the 2022–23 school year, students in grades K–4 will receive social emotional learning. There is no sexual health content required for students in grades K–4. Social emotional learning is learning about respectful communication, healthy friendships, respecting personal space, and managing emotions.

Beginning in the 2022–23 school year, students in grades 5 will receive only one sexual health lesson. Instruction on human growth and development (puberty) generally begins in 5th grade.

Older students in grades 6 through 12 will receive age-appropriate information about human growth and development and the reproductive system, including healthy relationships, consent, abstinence, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and pregnancy prevention methods.

How we selected the lessons:

The district established a curriculum committee* to carefully review available programs which meets SB5395 requirements. The curriculum committee* considered our community mindset and utilized a conservative approach in selecting a CSHE program for our district. Neighboring districts have also selected components from the curriculum listed below.

You are able to review our sexual health curriculum prior to instruction taking place. Choice is available and you may opt your child or children out of instruction with a written request.

The proposed CSHE was available for review and comments through June 29, 2022. The lessons that were considered for each grade level, the opt-out form, and frequently asked questions are found at the following link Curriculum. You were invited to review and comment on the potential CSHE at the district website online or review hard copies available at the district office, room 205.

Our district will continue to make the decision about what curriculum and educational materials we use for comprehensive sexual health instruction. The curriculum committee* identified and selected specific lessons to be taught by grade level from the Rights, Respect, Responsibility: A K – 12 Curriculum. We will not be utilizing the entire Rights, Respect, Responsibility Curriculum; the curriculum committee selected only certain components for instruction to our students.

For more information about Senate Bill 5395 and its requirements, please visit the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) website: https://www.k12.wa.us/studentsuccess/resources-subject-area/sexual-health-education. 

Please feel free to email any questions or input you would like to provide on the lessons being considered for instruction to Dr. Paul Farris at pfarris@whitepass.k12.wa.us.

Sincerely,
Dr. Paul Farris - District Superintendent

*Curriculum Committee Members:
 
Dr. Paul Farris, Superintendent, Camille Buffington – Jr/Sr High Teacher, Tara Keniston – 5th grade teacher, Erin Shook – 6th grade teacher, Greggery Teel – Elementary Principal, Chris Schumaker – Jr/Sr High Principal