Eastmont School Board Presented with New Sex Ed Curriculum Draft

Staff presented the Eastmont School Board with a draft proposal of the district's new sexual education curriculum meant to fit the state's new requirements in the upcoming school year.

After legislation was passed in the 2019-20 state legislative session mandating several requirements in sexual education, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) has outlined its expectations on the subject. School districts must use instruction materials from an OSPI list, or districts can use locally developed sex ed curriculum by using an analysis tool from OSPI. Distrcits must share all instruction materials with OSPI and demonstrate how they are aligned to instruction requirements.

Eastmont Executive Director Spencer Taylor said that, under the district's proposal, K-4 students will not be taught sexual education and will only receive social/emotional learning.

"It's basically character education." explained Taylor, "How do you understand yourself and your own emotions? How do you develop healthy relationships? How do you be a good friend? What do you do when you're really angry and how do you calm yourself down? How do you work in a group with other people that maybe are different than you?"

Students in 5th and 6th grades will also be taught human growth and development (puberty) as well as HIV/AIDS prevention with a focus on abstinence and other prevention strategies. 7th and 8th grade students will receive education on the reproductive process and the differences between choosing healthy vs risky behaviors. High school-aged students will then be instructed on sexual health, prevention strategies, consent and applicable Washington State laws.

The board also suggested adding curriculum on good touch/bad touch.

Under the proposal parents will be able to review all sex ed materials at least 30 days before the instruction will begin, and parents may opt their kids out of any or all sexual education. All materials and information must be provided electronically.

The board will vote on the proposal July 12th. OSPI requires that all districts have their curriculum approved by August.

A link to the board's agenda packet, which includes much of the proposed materials, can be found here (pages 89-119).