Parents have the right and responsibility to educate their children about sexual health. While the primary responsibility for sexual health education belongs to the parents, schools have a responsibility to prepare students with information to make healthy decisions. While the school can contribute to and reinforce healthy attitudes while presenting factual information, it is parents who can best give these facts their spiritual and emotional quality. Classroom instruction in this area should support the family as the primary unit of society and provide the individual learner with a foundation for future decision-making. 

Health Opportunities Through Physical  Education

The School Board of Brevard County, Florida, has authorized teaching Health Education, of which Human Sexuality is a component, to meet legislative mandates. The Human Sexuality Curriculum has been carefully written by a team of teachers, parents, administrators, and community members.

The major purpose of the Human Sexuality Curriculum at the high school level is to help students improve their personal and social relationships for a better understanding of themselves and others. 

Standards for H.O.P.E require teachers to cover:

• Mental/Social Health

• Physical Activity

• Components of Physical Fitness

• Nutrition and Wellness Planning

• Diseases and Disorders

• Health Advocacy

• First Aid/CPR

• Alcohol, Tobacco, and Drug Prevention

• Human Sexuality  

• Abstinence and HIV (F.S. 1003.46)

• Internet Safety

The benchmarks specifically addressed include:

• HE.912.CEH 3.5 Examine barriers that can hinder healthy decision making.

• HE.912 PHC 2.3 Analyze how friends and peers influence the health of individuals.

• HE.912.PHC 3.5 Recognize the signs and symptoms of suicidal ideations.

• HE.912.SUA 1.2 Analyze how moderate and excessive alcohol consumption can contribute to risky, unsafe behaviors and consequences. 

• HE.912.PHC.1.4 Interpret the significance of interrelationships in mental and physical health.

• HE.912.PHC.1.2 Analyze personal strategies for prevention, detection, and treatment of communicable and chronic diseases.

• HE.912.PHC 3.7 Assess the degree of susceptibility to injury, illness, or death if engaging in unhealthy/risky behaviors.

• HE.912.CEH.2.6 Analyze how culture supports and challenges health beliefs, practices, and behaviors.

• HE.912.PHC.2.7 Evaluate the influence of personal values, attitudes, and beliefs about individual health practices and behaviors.

• HE.912.PHC 1.3 Analyze the role of individual responsibility in enhancing health.

• HE.912.PHC 2.8 Design a social media campaign that positively influences physical and/or mental health.

Other major concepts covered include: 

• Review of the structures and functions of the reproductive systems.

• Examining pregnancy/childbirth.

• Sexually transmitted infections to include HIV/AIDS

• Abstinence

• Healthy and unhealthy relationship behaviors

To assist students with a thorough understanding of the content, there is a supplemental resource (Glencoe Florida Human Sexuality) for classroom use only.  All of the previously mentioned references to standards, benchmarks, and other concepts are included in this supplemental resource for the Human Sexuality portion of the curriculum.   Certified teachers will present the Human Sexuality Education Unit and have been instructed on proper usage of the supplemental text as well as the Human Sexuality Curriculum Guide. 

If you are interested in reviewing the curriculum content and instructional materials, please contact the Assistant Principal for Curriculum at your students' school to make an appointment.  You may call your student’s teacher to discuss information related to the curriculum and/or to choose to opt out of specific lessons.

Opt-out statute language

According to Florida Statute 1003.42, section (3):

“Any student whose parent makes written request to the school principal shall be exempted from the teaching of reproductive health or any disease, including HIV/AIDS, its symptoms, development, and treatment. A student so exempted may not be penalized by reason of that exemption. Course descriptions for comprehensive health education shall not interfere with the local determination of appropriate curriculum which reflects local values and concerns.”

Mollie Vega, Director, Secondary Programs 

  Vega.mollie@brevardschools.org

321-633-1000 ext. 11310

Danielle O'Reilly, Content Specialist

K-12 Health/PE, Driver Education, and JROTC

oreilly.danielle@brevardschools.org

321-633-1000 ext. 11387