Sex education is expected to return to Fort Worth ISD classrooms later this year.
At the Feb. 27 board meeting, after a six-month review by the district-appointed School Health Advisory Committee, the board voted 8-0, with Trustee Tobi Jackson absent, to select the best sex education curriculum. ' was approved.
“We don't want our students to go another year without access to a sex education curriculum,” board member Ann Derr said.
The review, convened by a 21-member advisory committee of parents, community members, and school staff, examined the differences between parents, religious groups, and social organizations related to the implementation of abstinence-based sex education in Fort Worth ISD. A debate arose.
Tuesday's board meeting drew gatherings and public comments from groups such as the Tarrant County Democratic Party and Mercy Culture Church for Liberty and Justice.
The conference attracted 48 speakers.
Texas school districts are not required to teach sex education. However, districts that choose to do so must let parents choose to enroll their students in the course of study, and classes must focus on abstinence.
According to Atlanta-based Choosing the Best LLC, Choosing the Best is an “abstinence-centered curriculum.”
“Abstinence prevents pregnancy,” said trustee Michael Ryan. “That's the law we have to follow.”
The board said Choosing the Best was approved because it was the board's only option if Fort Worth ISD students were to receive sex education this year.
“Choosing the best is the only legally available option. The only one,” Darr said. “The board must govern within the law. As these laws change, this board changes accordingly.”
What is the process of adopting a new sex education curriculum?
In 2021, the Texas Legislature updated legislation outlining how to review sex education curriculum. The process is as follows:
- The Board of Education shall adopt a resolution to convene the School Health Advisory Committee.
- The advisory committee must hold at least two public meetings on the material before considering it for adoption.
- The advisory committee will submit recommendations to the school board at a public meeting.
- The school board will review the recommendations to ensure they meet state standards and consider taking action.
Tuesday's meeting approved funding for only the first year of the curriculum, as the district purchases the curriculum through federal pandemic relief funds (ESSER funds). The purchase will cost the district $72,272.
“The state did not fully fund the materials,” said Carmen Arrieta-Candelaria, the district's chief financial officer. “The first year will be funded by ESSER and the remaining years will go to the general fund.”
Sex education was not taught during the 2022-23 school year because the district made several errors in the recommendation process, and in January 2023, Superintendent Angelica Ramsey announced that the California-based Health This is because the company withdrew its plan to use the $2.6 million worth of teaching materials purchased from Smart.
This year, Ramsey and the health advisory committee ensured the process complies with the law, she said.
Still, that doesn't deter some parents and students from claiming that “choosing the best” is far from the best option.
“Teaching abstinence doesn't help teens who have already had sex,” said Emma Barberena, a senior at Arlington Heights High School. She said, “Censored curriculum should have no place here.”
Opponents of the curriculum highlighted that despite Texas' focus on abstinence, Texas had the ninth-highest teen birth rate in 2021, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Parents also pointed out how poor Google Translate's translation of the curriculum into Spanish was. Sabrina Ball, a Spanish learning parent, said the translation was so poor that Spanish-speaking parents could hardly review the curriculum.
Such translations prevent bilingual students from receiving the same sex education as English-speaking students, Ball said.
“You're in a classroom and the teacher is trying to teach you something from Google Translate…You have to be very careful about how you teach that material,” Ball said. “The content is unclear.”
“Choosing the Best Supporters” told the room to give children sex education if they didn't like the curriculum. In 2022-2023, 3% of parents will choose not to have their children receive sex education.
“Choosing the Best is evidence-based, age-appropriate, medically accurate, trauma-informed, and targeted to all students,” Beacon Health Education Resources said Lori Kuykendall, president of. “Students get the information, skills and support they need to thrive.”
Many also highlighted the lack of “indoctrination” and “propaganda” in the curriculum compared to competitors. Fort Worth ISD parent Holly Plemmons said her son, now 16, has been receiving sex education through the HealthSmart curriculum.
“He was taught about 42 genders…all things that go against our family values,” Plemmons said.
Earlier this month, Fort Worth Report obtained a copy of Choosing the Best's sixth grade and high school curriculum. Hundreds of pages of teacher manuals and student lessons contain tips on how to “avoid pregnancy” and “avoid sexually transmitted diseases,” such as not drinking alcohol and refraining from sexual activity. Masu.
How is “best choice” taught in Fort Worth ISD schools?
6th grade curriculum:
- 6 45 minute sessions
- teenage pregnancy
- Risk of sexually transmitted diseases
- avoid unhealthy relationships
- “While highlighting the risks of sex, it also highlights the positive benefits of delaying sex.”
High school curriculum:
- 8 45 minute lessons
- Avoiding pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases through abstinence
- Overcoming the pressure to be sexually active
- “How casual sex negatively impacts emotions and how sexual delay brings freedom – freedom from physical and emotional risks and the ability to pursue dreams and personal goals.'' Learn about freedom.
Board members said despite the conflicting opinions, approval of Choosing the Best was inevitable given the health advisory committee's recommendation in late January.
Teaching sex education was a priority this year. Darr said the board and advisory committee did not have time to consider it further.
Trustees encouraged those who spoke against “Best Choice” at Tuesday's board meeting to take the issue to the state Legislature.
“I do not support an abstinence-only curriculum because it does not provide enough information to children outside of the school environment,” Durr said, stressing that the board must continue to follow state law.
Fort Worth ISD has not yet given a timeline for adding “best fit curriculum choices” to schools this school year.
Matthew Sgroi is an education reporter for The Fort Worth Report. Please contact matthew.sgroi@fortworthreport.org or @MatthewSgroi1. At The Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independent of board members and financial supporters.Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
This article first appeared in Fort Worth Report and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
