Health Curriculum & Parent Notices
Curriculum
Notice of Written Parental Consent for Instruction in Sensitive Content 2024-25 School Year
GISD will be offering instruction in the topics listed below. Due to the nature of the topics, your written consent is required should you want your child to participate. Texas law provides the following information so that you can make an informed decision for your child. The topics that will be presented are in the areas of:
- Human Sexuality, 6th through 12 grade, during the 2024-2025 school year
- Benefits of abstinence as the only 100% effective way to prevent pregnancy and STIs/HIV/AIDS
- Decision-making and refusal skills
- Child Abuse and Family Violence, K through 5th grade, during the 2024-2025 school year
- Safe body boundaries, personal space, body ownership
- Recognizing, resisting, and reporting
An opt-in form will be sent to you along with a notification 14 days prior to the curriculum presentation. If you wish for your child to receive the curriculum instruction you will be required to return the opt-in form to your child’s teacher. Under Texas law, if you do not complete the form agreeing to instruction, your child will not be allowed to participate. Your child’s teacher will assign alternative lessons or activities, and your child will not be subject to any disciplinary action, academic penalty, or other sanction.
The Greenville ISD Board of Trustees has approved the use of this curriculum, based on the recommendation of the Greenville ISD School Health Advisory Council. The district’s School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) is composed of parents, students, community, and school staff members and ensures that local community values are reflected in the district’s health education instruction.
More information can be found on the Greenville ISD SHAC webpage, which is located under the Health Services department at greenvilleisd.com. If you have any questions specifically about SHAC, or if you are interested in further information regarding SHAC, please view the webpage or contact Greenville ISD Director of Health Services, Sherri Cano.
Instruction Requirements Under State Law
The chosen curriculum is compliant with Section 28.004 of the Texas Education Code and will:
- present abstinence from sexual activity as the preferred choice of behavior in relationship to all sexual activity for unmarried persons of school age;
- devote more attention to abstinence from sexual activity than to any other behavior;
- emphasize that abstinence from sexual activity, if used consistently and correctly, is the only method that is 100 percent effective in preventing pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, infection with HIV/AIDS, and the emotional trauma associated with adolescent sexual activity;
- direct adolescents to a standard of behavior in which abstinence from sexual activity before marriage is the most effective way to prevent pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and infection with HIV/AIDS; and
- teach contraception and condom use in terms of human use reality rates instead of theoretical laboratory rates.
- Not distribute condoms in connection with instruction relating to human sexuality.
Curriculum Review
Under state law (Texas Education Code 28.004), parents have the right to review or purchase curriculum material related to these topics. To review the curriculum materials or if you have any questions regarding the curriculum materials, please contact GISD Deputy Superintendent, Dr. Shazzma Crooks.
Opportunities for Parent/Guardian Involvement
Parents/guardians have the opportunity for involvement in the development or selection of the curriculum used for instruction regarding human sexuality, child abuse, family violence, dating violence, and human trafficking. The School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) meets regularly throughout the school year and meetings are open to the public. The SHAC will review and make recommendations to the district about any changes to the current curriculum or any new program to be implemented in these specific areas. The SHAC shall hold two public feedback meetings if any curriculum is being adopted or revised.
Grievance Procedures
A parent may use the grievance procedure concerning a complaint of a violation of notice requirements. The district has adopted a standard complaint policy at FNG(LOCAL) in the district’s policy manual. A copy of this policy may be obtained in the principal’s or superintendent’s office or on the district’s website at greenvilleisd.com. Parents may also use the appeals process under Texas Education Code Section 7.057.
We look forward to working with you to ensure your child has a positive and educationally enriching experience this school year. Again if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.