Capistrano Unified School District - Sexual Health Education

Parents/Students

Sexual Health Education

Assembly Bill (AB) 329, which has been called the California Healthy Youth Act (CHYA), was enacted on January 1, 2016, and modified California Education Code §§ 51930 to 51939. The law required school districts to add comprehensive sexual health education to the already existent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention education and to require this instruction one time during grades 6 through 8 and one time during grades 9 through 12.

“Comprehensive sexual health education” means education regarding human development and sexuality, including education on pregnancy, contraception, and sexually transmitted infections (Education Code § 51931).

This webpage is intended to help educate our community about the law and Capistrano Unified School District’s work to implement it for middle and high school students.

INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

UPDATE regarding Sixth Grade Adolescent Growth and Development Lessons and Fifth Grade Family Life Lessons:

In January 2020, the District announced the decision to eliminate fifth-grade Family Life lessons and add sixth-grade Adolescent Growth and Development lessons. The purpose of this change was twofold. The fifth grade Family Life lessons were centered around an antiquated video at least thirty years old. At the same time, the state of California had just unveiled new requirements for the Comprehensive Sexual Health Curriculum, and the school district was required to make updates to the existing curriculum. The work of creating a new curriculum for Grade 6 was paused during the pandemic and restarted last fall. This year, the District shared information regarding the plans for the sixth-grade lessons with the CUSD community. In multiple settings, feedback was that Grade 6 was too late

for many students to learn about the topic of puberty and that an option in Grade 5 would be most appropriate.

With that in mind, the District will be working with healthcare partners to provide a series of optional sessions on puberty, health, and reproductive systems to parents, guardians, and students outside the school day. This model is similar to what is provided by the Irvine

Unified School District, where parents and guardians attend with their students. More information will be shared in the fall on how families can access this optional resource.

7th and 8th Grade Middle School Lessons

Our district will be using the CUSD Board-adopted Middle School Sexual Health Lessons, and the instruction will be delivered in 7th and 8th Grade Science classes in spring. The law allows parents or guardians to remove their child from comprehensive sexual health and HIV prevention education, using a passive consent or “opt-out” process. Schools must not require active consent (“opt-in”) for participation in comprehensive sexual health and HIV prevention education in any grade. State law allows you to remove your student from this instruction. Parental notification and opt-out opportunities will be shared at least 14 days prior to starting the lessons. If the parent/guardian does not request that the child be withheld, the child will receive the instruction as part of their science class. Students who do not participate in the comprehensive sexual health and HIV prevention education will complete alternate lessons/activities that are not related to comprehensive sexual health and HIV prevention education.

The law allows parents or guardians to remove their child from comprehensive sexual health and HIV prevention education, using a passive consent or “opt-out” process. Communication about opting out will be sent home by your school site prior to instruction.

Students who do not participate in the comprehensive sexual health and HIV prevention education will participate in an alternate activity.

High School

Sexual health instruction has traditionally been part of high school health classes. With the passage of the California Healthy Youth Act (CHYA), additional content is required to be included. The units of instruction are outlined below:

· Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs

· First Aid/CPR

· Gender and Anatomy

· Creating a Safe and Inclusive School

· Pregnancy Outcomes and Birth Control

· Unhealthy/Healthy Relationships

Opt-Out Process

The law allows parents or guardians to remove their child from comprehensive sexual health and HIV prevention education, using a passive consent or “opt-out” process. Schools must not require active consent (“opt-in”) for participation in comprehensive sexual health and HIV prevention education in any grade. In order to remove a child from the instruction, a parent/guardian must state their request in writing to the school. If the parent/guardian does not request in writing that the child be withheld, the child will attend the instruction. Schools must not require parents/guardians to return a signed acknowledgment that they have received the notice in order for their child to participate in the instruction.

Here is the LINK to the opt-out form for Middle School

Here is the LINK to the opt-out form for High School

If you have any questions, please email CUSDAssist@capousd.org

RESOURCES FOR SEXUAL HEALTH

Family Resource Center

VISIT THE FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER