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.

Middle School Health & Wellness Curriculum including Disease Prevention

The School Board of Brevard County, Florida, has authorized teaching Health and Wellness Education, of which Sexual Health Education is a component, to meet legislative mandates.  F.S. 1003.46 Health education; instruction in acquired immune deficiency syndrome- 

(1) Each district school board may provide instruction in acquired immune deficiency syndrome education as a specific area of health education. Such instruction may include, but is not limited to, the known modes of transmission, signs and symptoms, risk factors associated with acquired immune deficiency syndrome and means to control the spread of acquired immune deficiency syndrome. The instruction shall be appropriate for the grade and age of the student and shall reflect current theory, knowledge, and practice regarding acquired immune deficiency syndrome and its prevention.

(2) Throughout instruction in acquired immune deficiency syndrome, sexually transmitted diseases, or health education, when such course material contains instruction in human sexuality, a school shall:

a. Classify males and females as provided in s. 1000.21(9) and teach that biological males impregnate biological females by fertilizing the female egg with male sperm; that the female then gestates the offspring; and that these reproductive roles are binary, stable, and unchangeable.

b. Teach abstinence from sexual activity outside of marriage as the expected standard for all school-age students while teaching the benefits of monogamous heterosexual marriage.

c. Emphasize that abstinence from sexual activity is a certain way to avoid out-of-wedlock pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, including acquired immune deficiency syndrome, and other associated health problems.

d. Teach that each student has the power to control personal behavior and encourage students to base actions on reasoning, self-esteem, and respect for others.

e. Provide instruction and material that is appropriate for the grade and the age of the student.

The Department of Education must approve any materials used for instruction under this subsection.

The major purpose of the Health and Wellness Curriculum at the secondary level is to help students improve their personal and social relationships for a better understanding of themselves and others. It is during these adolescent years that children need specific and realistic information concerning growth and development, mental/emotional health, interpersonal relationships, and disease, to better prepare them for adulthood. The Health and Wellness Curriculum was carefully written by a team of teachers, administrators, and community members. It is continually evaluated and updated to include accurate and timely data as well as current best practices for instruction in health education.

At the middle school level, major concepts to be covered are: 

• effective communication, negotiation, and safe social networking skills

• cyberbullying

• decision making skills.

• nutrition

• analyzing relationships (healthy vs. unhealthy)

• substance use/abuse prevention (including vaping, tobacco, alcohol and other drugs)

• communicable diseases 

Certified teachers will present the lessons within the Health and Wellness Curriculum Guides and have been instructed on proper implementation. Typically, the lessons are conducted in Physical Education class but may also be presented through science (school/principal discretion). The teacher providing the instruction will send a letter home prior to the lessons with information and the opportunity to opt-out.  When presenting lessons within sexual health, teachers will stress that abstinence from sexual activity is the expected standard for unmarried, school age students.

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

We appreciate your interest and cooperation in the implementation of our Health and Wellness Curriculum.

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. Each school district shall, on the district’s website homepage, notify parents of this right and the process to request an exemption. 

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