March 2025 NHCS Board of Education Meeting In response to the NHCS Board of Educ: stakeholders Thursday, February 27, 2025 Attendees: Norwood Blanchard, Board Attorney Dr. Robin Hamilton, Interim Chief Academic Officer Julie Varnam, Assistant Superintendent, Student Support Services Dr. Lo DeWalt, Director, Curriculum and Instruction Kim Clark, Principal, Trask Middle School Deanna Leake, Principal, Murray Middle School Jennifer Tucker, Health and PE Teacher (Former Stepping Stones Teacher) Lauren Tyson, Health and PE Teacher, Sunset Park (Former Stepping Stones Teacher) James McDonald, Health and PE Teacher, Myrtle Grove Middle School Kyle Williams, Health and PE Teacher, Holly Shelter Middle School n’s request, there was a meeting of We propose to proceed with business as usual for the remainder of the 24-25 school year. The committee believes the title "Stepping Stones” is misunderstood by parents. Potentially controversial curricular details were added in 2021. We have called the Family Life program, "Stepping Stones" for years. The parents of current students who had "Stepping Stones” in our district as students, may believe that "Stepping Stones" is the same program they had years ago. The committee recommends moving forward in the 25/26 school year with one middle school curriculum called Family Life. (This does not change grades five or nine). Abstinence first is what we would continue to teach per general statute. Previously, both programs (My Life and Stepping Stones taught abstinence first). The one Family Life curriculum would include all areas of My Life, in addition to other key health-based topics, previously included in Stepping Stones, such as: Contraception Self-Breast or Testicular exams Fetal development Sex Trafficking and abuseAll the above items are in state standards and in the general statutes. We have listened to the community input and want to be responsive to the community request. It is clear our community values contraception. We heard from our community that it was important, and we recommend keeping contraception With the number of students not opting in, a number of students are not receiving instruction that the General Assembly mandates. The change to this one curriculum would mean removing a total of four Stepping Stones lessons, (one sixth grade lesson, two seventh grade lessons, and one eighth grade lesson), and keeping all other lessons previously found in Stepping Stones. The committee feels this proposal will help keep our students safe and informed. Staff Recommendation #1: Switch to a single middle school Family Life education program beginning in the 2025-2026 school year with parent ability to opt out. This program would be called Family Life. * Keep 5th grade “Growth and Changes’ as is, with an opt out model Staff Recommendation #2: Policy committee updates policy 3540 section B to reflect a single middle school program titled Family Life. Rationale © We have listened to the community input and want to be responsive to the community request. It is clear our community values contraception. We heard from our community that it was important, and we recommend keeping contraception in the curriculum. We recommend maintaining instruction on contraceptives in addition to the abstinence first approach that aligns with updated state standards, © Single curriculums in 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th grade allow for vertical alignment of topics discussed © This proposal continues to allow parents to make informed decisions about their child's personal needs for sexual and reproductive health education © Reallocation of § family life teachers in the 24-25 budget shifted family life to HPE teachers at each middle school, A single program aligns better with current model as a unit of health class (similar to 9th grade). © This proposal eliminates potential confusion in name changes over the course of the program's long history in NHCS.& © This proposal aligns to updated Healthy Living NCSOS that will begin in the 25- 26 school year. © This proposal follows all applicable laws, John Doe settlement terms, and State Board policy. © GS 115C-81-30, GS 115C-81-25, SB 279, HB 88, Session Law 2019-245, SBOE policy 3540 Staff Commitments © The instructional team will revise the parental permission slip and include descriptions of course and topics covered for transparency. © 25-26 families have already submitted middle school elective options. We will reshare at the start of the 25-26 school year. ©. The instructional team will confirm all lessons align with new NCSOS healthy living standards, general statues, and board approved Family life Topics © The instructional team will update the family life website to reflect a single program for 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th grade and applicable policy updates and parental right information to opt out Staff Recommended: 6-8th Grade Family Life Curriculum Topics 115C-81.30. Reproductive health & safety; SB 199 (2019); SB 279 (2015); HB 88 (2009) 25-26 Newly Updated ICHR Interpersonal Communications and Healthy Relationships Standards © Abstinent first approach: Abstinence is best method to avoid sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS, pregnancy, out of wedlock, and risks of premarital sexual activity Peer Pressure, healthy relationships, and consent Physical and hormonal changes during puberty Talking to your parents and trusted adults about the health of your body Factually accurate information related to the human reproductive system Preventable risks for preterm birth in subsequent pregnancies, including induced abortion, smoking, alcohol consumption, the use of illegal drugs, and inadequate prenatal care © Sexually transmitted diseases including how STDs are and are not transmitted, the effectiveness and safety of all federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA)- approved methods of reducing the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, and information on local resources for testing and medical care for sexually transmitted diseases © Rates of infection among pre-teen and teens of each known sexually transmitted disease and the effects of contracting each sexually transmitted disease. In particular, the instruction shalll include information about the effects of contracting the Human Papilloma Virus, including sterility and cervical cancer. © Effectiveness and safety of all FDA-approved contraceptive methods info preventing pregnancy & reduce risk of STDs Awareness of sexual assault, sexual abuse, sexual harassment Sex trafficking prevention and awareness Media influence, social media safety, sexting, and state laws regarding child pornography/sharing explicit sexual images Sexual misconduct and recognizing and reporting sexual abuse, policies and procedures around sexual misconduct and reporting such misconduct, and recognizing red flags and setting boundaries Self-exams: importance of early cancer screeningStaff Recommendations Implementation in 2025-2026 NHCS Reproductive Health and Safety Scope and Sequence Chart GRADE 5 GRADE 6| GRADE 7/|GRADE 8| GRADE 9 ica fed pes [advantages of Abstinence [Assertive Communication & Refusal skis [available Community Resources v v 41S Breast SoitExam (gits only) {chita BirtvPregnancy 4 [Consequences of Teen Pregnancy 4 [contraception Healthy Communication ih Relationships/Dating Fetal Development S/<1SIS K1<1SI< 1616 FriendshipiGommunteation Skills During Conflicts v Human Reproduction Cells Only AIS]S]<]<6 Male/Female Reproductive System v <1] S 1 SIS 16] SI SAIS TS 4IS14]<6 41S46]<6 Media infuence & Online Safety v Parenting Parent Involvement Peer Pressure 4 as SISISIS 4 Physical Changes of Adolescence 4 4 [seit Esteem aI<16]<6 [sex Trafficking [Sexually Tranemitied Diseases including HIVIAIDs and HPV Reporting Sexual Abuse/Sexual Harassment < 4 4 AIS] ]s [Technology & Safety v v KISIS |S ]S SISIS |S] S [Testicular Sot Exam (boys only)[Groen = Updated Healthy Living NCSOS begins implementation in 25-26 school year (Interpersonal [Communication and Healthy Relationships Standards - ICHR) White with checkmark = Nota state standard but addressed as part of a robust curriculum for puberty, heathy relationships, andior student safety. Previous Family Life Chart for Comparison: Family Life Education TOPICS COVERED GRADE 5| GRADES | GRADE7 | GRADES crag enece 7 ne comm a ee une comma tsoaee : ce ye | v cme srvreonncy eosnnen of nt ee ae epee |e =i e 2 a ¥ v ety Rate eg ae aa eee a = vi vl. Te z v tet. Te emer |v [ew |» |v |v |v v v v z Pa Pa ated ¥ v ¥ v oo a es v v v v v v v roan Pesca Ging tacos | y vole ee te —— v v v v v v v oo v v ¥ betaine meee ee ematanewtomvonemen |p ome erin ere =e] “ v Set Tanne ete S Sobel be choy sey : a aealey . ae z MISSION STATEM! The mission ofthe Family Life Education Department is to provide a medically accurate and age appropriate human development and sexuality education that encourages parent/child communication, promotes abstinence and enables all students to make responsible decisions regarding their health and sexuality. swmahcssneUfamilslife Denotes Kay aterences programs rev. on2022