The Battle Ground School Board will hear the first reading of the recommendation made by the Middle School Sexual Health Advisory Committee to adopt the curriculum to use in teaching middle school sexual health in the district.
The hearing will come at Monday’s 6 p.m. school board meeting, which will be held in-person at 406 N.W. Fifth Ave., in a limited attendee capacity and virtually via Zoom.
Last November, state voters passed Referendum 90, which requires the teaching of comprehensive sexual education in grades 4-12 and a social-emotional focus for K-3. The law also includes flexibility for when sexual health is first taught; Battle Ground schools opted to begin its curriculum once students reach fifth grade. Districts statewide must begin phasing in lessons starting next school year, but parents can opt their child out from all lessons, or by individual units.
The district formed a Middle School Sexual Health Advisory Committee made up of staff, parents and community members that met 10 times since March to determine curriculum to be taught districtwide for fifth grade and grades six through eight.
