HSS vs. Health/Sex Curricula 

Sexual Education/Family Life - Rocklin Clarifications 

Important clarification regarding Comprehensive Sexual Education (CSE) and the California History-Social Studies (HSS) curricula approved by the RUSD Board of Trustees. They are unrelated.  

• CSE, which is part of the California Healthy Youth Act (CHYA) took effect on January 1, 2016.  Rocklin Unified has no plans to adopt K-6 curriculum related to CHYA/CSE at this time.  If you are interested in seeing exactly what subjects/curricula Rocklin Unified may adopt in the future, please take a look at the RUSD adoption timeline.   

There is a great deal of misinformation on social media about CSE/CHYA.  In an effort to communicate and be transparent with our community, RUSD would like to share the following facts:

• The selection of a K-6 CHYA/CSE aligned framework/curricula would occur in a completely different district adoption cycle.  Per the RUSD adoption timeline, there is currently not a K-6 health curriculum adoption slated for our school district in the next five years.  

• While CSE/CHYA permits the teaching of sexual education and HIV prevention in elementary school, it is not required.  At this time, RUSD has no plan to adopt a K-6 health curriculum aligned with CHYA/CSE.  

• Currently, RUSD only teaches Human Growth and Development in grades 5 and 6.  The focus of this curricula is on the changing body.  Reproduction is introduced but the act of sex is not discussed or part of the curriculum. Parent permission is required to participate in Human Growth and Development in grades 5 and 6 and opt outs are permitted. 

• CHYA/CSE requires that students in grades 7-12 receive comprehensive sexual health education and HIV prevention education at least once in middle school and once in high school.  Last year, RUSD adopted the curriculum Positive Prevention Plus for use in 7th and 9th grades.  The District has been successfully teaching this content in grades 7-12. RUSD will continue to inform 7-12 parents and provide them with access to materials and an opt out of this curriculum if they choose.

• The California History-Social Studies framework/curricula, including our recent district adoptions in this area, are not related to CHYA/CSE.  While our district HSS curricula do conform to the California Fair Act and include references to the contributions of historical figures that are/were gay, lesbian, and homosexual, the intent is to teach history/social studies, not health or human sexuality. 

Questions/concerns can be directed to the RUSD district office at (916) 630-3187.  

1. What is the FAIR Act? 

The Fair, Accurate, Inclusive, and Respectful Education Act (SB 48), written by Senator Mark Leno, went into effect January 1, 2012. The FAIR Act amends Education Code to ensure that the contributions and roles of underrepresented racial, ethnic, and cultural populations are included in Grades 1-12 United States and California History lessons, classes, and curricular materials.

FAIR is in alignment with the California History/ Social Science Standards. It is up to teachers, schools, and districts (in conjunction with parent and community input) to determine how FAIR content, instruction, and materials are incorporated into each grade level/ class. The History/ Social Science textbook adoption process began in 2017; however, the California History/ Social Science Framework provides specific grade-level examples of FAIR content.

The Fair Education Act amends the following California Education Code:

1. Regarding Grades 1-12 History/ Social Science standards: The Fair Education Act amends the following California Education Code:

·        § 51204.5.  Instruction in social sciences shall include the early history of California and a study of the role and contributions of both men and women, Native Americans, African Americans, Mexican Americans, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, European Americans, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans, persons with disabilities, and members of other ethnic and cultural groups, to the economic, political, and social development of California and the United States of America, with particular emphasis on portraying the role of these groups in contemporary society.

2. Regarding teacher instruction:

·        § 51500. A teacher shall not give instruction and a school district shall not sponsor any activity that promotes a discriminatory bias on the basis of race or ethnicity, gender, religion, disability, nationality, or sexual orientation, or because of a characteristic listed in Section 220.

3. Regarding teaching materials:

·        § 51501. The state board and any governing board shall not adopt any textbooks or other instructional materials for use in the public schools that contain any matter reflecting adversely upon persons on the basis of race or ethnicity, gender, religion, disability, nationality, or sexual orientation, or because of a characteristic listed in Section 220.

 4. Regarding textbook adoption:

·        § 60040. When adopting instructional materials for use in the schools, governing boards shall include only instructional materials which, in their determination, accurately portray the cultural and racial diversity of our society, including:

(a) The contributions of both men and women in all types of roles, including professional, vocational, and executive roles.

(b) The role and contributions of Native Americans, African Americans, Mexican Americans, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, European Americans, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans, persons with disabilities, and members of other ethnic and cultural groups to the total development of California and the United States.

© The role and contributions of the entrepreneur and labor in the total development of California and the United States.

·        § 60044.  A governing board shall not adopt any instructional materials for use in the schools that, in its determination, contain:

(a) Any matter reflecting adversely upon persons on the basis of race or ethnicity, gender, religion, disability, nationality, or sexual orientation, occupation, or because of a characteristic listed in Section 220.

(b) Any sectarian or denominational doctrine or propaganda contrary to law.

More information can be found at the California Department of Education.