Family Life Education Curriculum Advisory Committee

Minutes

Meeting called to order at 7:04 p.m.

Community members welcomed and reminded that public comment is not a part of FLECAC meetings, but they may observe the meeting.

Committee Introductions

• All members introduced themselves and their roles on the committee.
• Voting and non-voting members were identified.

Review purpose and role of FLECAC

• Maintained to advise the K-12 HPE senior manager on program of studies development and implementation.
• Provide advice and recommendations on objectives/descriptive statements and media.

Robert’s Rules of Order & Review of Meeting Procedures

• Parlimentarian provided an overview of Robert’s Rules of Order and committee procedures including making motions, making amendments, voting, and maintaining decorum during discussions.
• Committee members received committee guidelines which were reviewed.
• Committee members were asked to inform the chair in advance of a meeting they would be unable to attend if possible.

Family Life Education in FCPS

• Chair provided an overview of the Family Life Education program in FCPS.
• Reviewed legislated and Virginia Board of Education requirements.
• Provided overview of FCPS regulation 3204, Family Life Education.
• Curriculum overview
  • Emotional and Social Health unit (ESH) in kindergarten through grade 10.
  • Human Growth and Development unit (HGD) in grades four through 10.
  • Lessons in grades 11 and 12 instructed through social studies.
  • Modified curriculum

Review of SY 2023-2024 committee recommendations

• Completed objectives and descriptive statements related to setting and respecting personal boundaries and consent.
• Update media for grade four girl’s puberty lesson.
• Include external female genitalia in instruction for grades four through seven.

Changes to FLE instruction beginning SY 2024-2025

• Revised lessons in kindergarten through grade two based on approved objectives and descriptive statements for boundaries and consent.
• Revised grade four girl’s puberty lesson.
• Revised grades five through seven instruction to include external female genitalia.
• Removed the testicular self-examination video in grade 10 and revised the lesson.
• Revised the safety unit in the modified curriculum.
• Pilot of gender-combined instruction in grades five through eight HGD unit.
  • 14 total schools in the pilot

Revisions in Progress

• Lessons in grades three through 12 to align with approved objectives and descriptive statements related to boundaries and consent.
• Adding approved puberty video for grade seven.
• Revision of the modified curriculum self, relationships, and HGD units.
• Continue development of puberty media for grades four through six.

FLECAC Overview SY 2024-2025

• Explore instruction of gender identity in elementary school and a more inclusive FLE curriculum overall.
• Consider expanding instruction related to pornography.
• Review instruction on contraception and abortion.

Additional Committee Meeting Dates for SY 2024-2025 

• Wednesday, November 13, 2024
• Wednesday, December 11, 2024
• Wednesday, January 8, 2025
• Wednesday, February 12, 2025
• Wednesday, March 12, 2025
• Wednesday, April 9, 2025

Committee Discussion

• Committee began initial discussion of the first topic for this year - explore instruction of gender identify in elementary school and a more inclusive FLE curriculum overall.
• Chair is collecting information from other Virginia school divisions about what their curriculum does and does not include related to gender identity at the elementary level.

Closing Remarks

Meeting adjourned at 8:44 p.m.

Attendees

Minutes

Meeting called to order at 7:01 p.m.

Community members welcomed and reminded that public comment is not a part of FLECAC meetings, but they may observe the meeting.

Committee Introductions

• All members introduced themselves and their roles on the committee.
• Voting and non-voting members were identified.

October Meeting Minutes

October meeting minutes were approved with one grammatical and one spelling correction.

Puberty Video

An update on the development of puberty media for grades 4, 5, and 6 was provided to the committee.

Committee Discussion

Members individually reviewed information provided by the chair followed by discussion. Information included:  

• Current policies and regulations
• Gender identity instruction in other Virginia divisions
• Fairfax County Youth Survey data
• Research on the development of gender
• Other research and position statements related to care of LGBTQ+ youth
• Current FCPS health and FLE instruction relevant to instruction of gender identity
• Curriculum resources related to gender identity instruction
• National Sex Education standards for gender identity and sexual orientation

Motion:  Ask staff to provide age appropriate objectives for instruction of gender identity and related topics for grades K-2, 3-4, and 5-6.  Seventeen voting members present at time of vote.

• Yes: 16
• No: 0

Closing Remarks

Meeting adjourned at 8:17 p.m.

Attendees

Minutes

Meeting called to order at 7:02 p.m.

Committee Introductions

• All members introduced themselves and their roles in the community.
• Voting and non-voting members were identified

Review of Meeting Procedures

• Parliamentarian reviewed Robert’s Rules of Order and committee procedures.
• Committee members are encouraged to have ongoing communication about the work of the committee with the School Board member or organization they represent. 
• Materials are made available to facilitate the work of the committee and are not intended to be shared or posted in any form.

Review Purpose and Role of FLECAC

• Maintained to advise the K-12 HPE coordinator on program of studies development and implementation.
• Provide advice and recommendations on objectives/descriptive statements and basal materials.

Review FLECAC Recommendations from SY 2022-23

Recommendations from SY 2022-2023 were presented to the School Board in a work session on June 22, 2023. 

• Current recommendations based on FLECAC recommendations from SY 2021-2022.
• Recommended objectives and descriptive statements related to setting boundaries, respecting boundaries, and consent for kindergarten through grade eight.

Overview of Potential Topics for FLECAC Discussion and Consideration in SY 2023-24

• Objectives/descriptive statements related to consent in grades 9-12 and modified curriculum.
• Media to support puberty instruction.
• Recommendations from summer curriculum development project team for revisions to some objectives/descriptive statements to enhance the modified and general education FLE curricula.
• Consider if pornography should be instructed at any grade level(s) in addition to current instruction in grade nine.

Meeting Dates

Meeting dates were posted and reviewed.

Boundaries and Consent in Grades 9-12

• An overview of recommendations for K-8 on consent was handed out and reviewed discussion points from last year.
• Draft objectives and descriptive statements were reviewed and discussed in small groups.  Groups provided feedback to the chair.

Closing Remarks

Meeting adjourned at 9 p.m.

Minutes

Meeting called to order at 7 p.m.

September Minutes

September meeting minutes approved with clarification that the recommendations from the summer curriculum development team were to enhance both the general education and modified curriculums.

Committee Introductions

All members introduced themselves and their roles in the community.

Review Purpose and Role of FLECAC

• Maintained to advise the K-12 HPE coordinator on program of studies development and implementation.
• Provide advice and recommendations on objectives/descriptive statements and basal materials.
• Process of bringing recommendation to the school board
• Roles within the committee

Boundaries and consent in grades 9-12

• Presentation from Fairfax County Domestic and Sexual Violence Services: Healthy Relationships, Dating Violence, Boundaries, & Consent.
• Committee members were asked to consider how the information presented applies to the objectives and descriptive statements on setting and respecting boundaries and consent for grades 9 and 10.  The objectives and descriptive statements will be discussed during the November meeting

Closing Remarks

Meeting adjourned at 9 p.m.

Minutes

Meeting called to order at 7:04 p.m.

October Minutes

October meeting minutes approved with correction to attendance of two members.

Committee Introductions

Members new to the committee introduced themselves and their roles in the community.

Update on Media for Grades 4-6

• Committee members were provided an update on the development of new media to support instruction of puberty and human reproduction in grades 4-6. The script is being developed and media production is considering how the information may be presented.
• Next update will be in January.

Boundaries and consent in grades 9-12

• Committee continued discussion of objectives and descriptive statements for grades 9 and 10.
• Committee members worked in small groups on individual objectives and descriptive statements. They were asked to share their recommendations for review and consideration in the next meeting.

December Meeting

• Motion: Cancel the December meeting and hold the next meeting as scheduled in January.
  • Yes: 8
  • No: 8
• Motion failed.
• Committee agreed to allow committee chair to follow-up with committee members in early December to determine if a quorum will be present.  Meeting may be cancelled by committee chair if a quorum will not be met.

Closing Remarks

Meeting adjourned at 9:01 p.m.

Minutes

Meeting called to order at 7:05 p.m.

An overview of the meeting agenda was provided.

Committee Introductions

New student representatives were welcomed to the committee. Committee members introduced themselves and their roles on FLECAC.

November Meeting Minutes

November meeting minutes were approved as written.

Boundaries and Consent in Grades 9-10

• Committee continued discussion of objectives and descriptive statements for grades 9 and 10.
• Committee asked staff to revise the draft objective for grade 9 lesson 5 number 1 to create two separate objectives and descriptive statements.  FLECAC will consider the revised objectives and descriptive statements in February. 
• Motion:  Approve the objectives and descriptive statements for grade 9 lesson 2 and grade 9 lesson 5 number 2 with the revisions discussed.
  • Yes: 18
  • No: 0
• Motion:  Approve the objectives and descriptive statements for grade 10 lesson 1 with the revisions discussed.
  • Yes: 19
  • No: 0

Boundaries and Consent in Grades 11-12

• This agenda item was tabled until the February meeting.
• Committee members received draft objectives and descriptive statements which will be considered at the February meeting.

Update on Media for Grades 4-6

• Committee members were provided an update and draft script for new media to support instruction of puberty and human reproduction in grades 4-6.  Committee members provided feedback on what they saw as strengths and suggestions.
• Committee members were given the opportunity to read the draft script more thoroughly and provide additional feedback prior to the February meeting.

Updates

• New webpage is live that provides information on the development of Family Life Education curriculum and the work of FLECAC.
• Committee member contact information does not need to be provided to the School Board office.

Preview Remaining Meetings

• Chair provided a tentative timeline for committee work during the remaining meetings in February, March, and April.
• FLECAC recommendations are scheduled for School Board new business in May.

Closing Remarks

Meeting adjourned at 8:58 p.m.

Minutes

Meeting called to order at 7:02 p.m.

An overview of the meeting agenda was provided.

Committee Member Updates

One voting member and one non-voting member have retired and will no longer serve on FLECAC.

December Meeting Minutes

December meeting minutes were approved with one grammatical correction.

Boundaries and Consent in Grades 9

• In the January meeting, the committee asked staff to revise the draft objective for grade 9 lesson 5 number 1 to create two separate objectives and descriptive statements. The committee reviewed the staff recommendations.
• Staff shared that due to revised and new objectives and descriptive statements the Emotional and Social Health unit in grade 9 would be reorganized. This will allow for a logical order of instruction that will enable students to access prior learning as they progress through the unit. The first proposed objective and descriptive statement would move from the current lesson 5 to be instructed as part of lesson 1. The second proposed objective and descriptive statement would become a new lesson 2.
• Motion:  Approve the objectives and descriptive statements for grade 9 as written.
  • Yes: 20
  • No: 0

Boundaries and Consent in Grades 11-12

• Committee members reviewed and discussed draft objectives and descriptive statements for grade 11 lesson 2 and grade 12 lesson 1.
• Committee recommended changing the title of grade 11 lesson 1 from Unhealthy Relationships and Sexual Violence to Sexual Violence. This change is a better reflection of the content of the lesson.
• Motion: Approve the objective and descriptive statement for grade 11 lesson 1 with the revisions discussed.
  • Yes: 20
  • No: 0
• Motion: Approve the objective and descriptive statement for grade 12 lesson 1 as written.
  • Yes: 19
  • No: 0
• The proposed new objective and descriptive statement for grade 12 will be reviewed and discussed at a future meeting.

Recommendations from Summer Curriculum Development Lesson Review

This item will be discussed at a future meeting.

Preview March Meeting

• The committee will consider a concern brought by a community member related to the media currently being used for the girls’ lesson.
• Committee members will view the media for the boys’ and girls’ lessons and make a recommendation either to change the girls’ media or keep the media as it is.

Closing Remarks

Meeting adjourned at 9 p.m.

Minutes

Meeting called to order at 7:12 p.m.

An overview of the meeting agenda was provided.

February Meeting Minutes

February meeting minutes were approved as written.

Puberty Media for Grade 4

FLECAC was asked to address two concerns from a parent regarding the puberty lesson in grade four. The first concern was regarding differences in the media used for instruction of the boys’ lesson and the media used for the girls’ lesson. The media in the boys’ lesson includes a section at the end that explains the male reproductive system. A similar section explaining the female reproductive system is not included in the girls’ media. The second concern was the lesson does not include the external female genitalia.

• Committee members were provided a copy of the original email sent by the parent to Dr. Reid. At the request of the parent, the letter was read aloud to the committee.
• The committee viewed the current media used in the girls’ lesson and the current media used in the boys’ lesson. The committee then viewed the final section of the girls’ media which is not being used in FCPS.
• Motion:  Recommend using the full version of the girls’ media including the section currently not being shown in FCPS. Sixteen voting members present at time of vote.
  • Yes: 16
  • No: 0
• The committee discussed showing a combined version of the video, including the male and female reproductive systems and menstruation, as part of both the boys’ and girls’ lessons. Students would remain in gender separate groups for the lesson.
• Motion: Recommend showing the same video including the male and female reproductive systems and menstruation to boys and girls in gender separate classes and allow parents/guardians to opt their child out of viewing the video.
  • Motion to strike out the option to allow opt-out of the video. Sixteen voting members present at time of vote.
  • Yes: 13
  • No: 1
• Motion: Recommend showing the same video including the male and female reproductive systems and menstruation to boys and girls in gender separate classes. Sixteen voting members present at time of vote.
  • Yes: 9
  • No: 6

Objectives and Descriptive Statements That Include Reproductive Systems Grades 4-8

• Objectives and descriptive statements will need to be revised to support use of the media in grade four that includes both the male and female reproductive systems, menstruation in the boys’ lesson, and the external female genitalia.
• Staff will bring draft objectives for committee review in April.

Boundaries and Consent in Grades 12

• Committee members reviewed and discussed draft of a new objective and descriptive statement for grade 12.
• Committee recommended adding the following to the descriptive statement:
  • Intervention and bystander awareness
  • Victims can be of any gender
  • Offenders can be of any gender
• Motion: Approve the objective and descriptive statement for grade 12 as written. Fifteen voting members present at time of vote.
  • Yes:  15
  • No: 0

Preview March Meeting

• Discuss recommendations from summer curriculum development team.
• Discuss revised objectives and descriptive statements for grades 4-8.
• Review draft report to the School Board.

Closing Remarks

Meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m.

Minutes

Meeting called to order at 7:03 p.m.

An overview of the meeting agenda was provided.

Introduction of new member.

March Meeting Minutes

March meeting minutes were approved as written.

Chair clarified recommendation of committee related to grade 4 puberty video.

Objectives and Descriptive Statements Grades 4-7

FLECAC recommended to restore the full content of the girl’s grade 4 puberty video.  This change would introduce the female external genitalia which is not currently included in instruction until grade 8.  The additional recommendation for all students to view a version of the video that includes both the male and female reproductive systems and menstruation expands content instructed in grade 4.  Revised objectives and descriptive statements were reviewed and discussed by the committee to align with content included in the video.

• Motion: Approve the objectives and descriptive statements for grades 4-7 with revisions discussed. Twenty-one voting members present at time of vote.
  • Yes: 21
  • No: 0

Objectives and Descriptive Statements From SY2023 Summer Curriculum Project

Committee members reviewed and discussed recommendations made by teachers who reviewed the general and modified FLE curriculum as part of a summer curriculum project in 2023.

• Motion: Approve the objectives and descriptive statements recommended by the summer curriculum project team with the revisions discussed. Twenty-one voting members present at time of vote.
  • Yes: 21
  • No: 0

Draft Report to the School Board

• Chair shared the draft report to the School Board with the committee and asked for any feedback or input. The report includes recommendations from the SY 2022-2023 committee that were not voted on by the School Board.  
• The timeline for the School Board to receive and vote on the recommendations was shared.
  •    May 9 – School Board new business
  •    May 10-June 10 – Community review and feedback period
  •    May 21 – School Board work session
  •    June 27 – School Board vote
• Members of the committee asked if the previous recommendation for gender inclusive instruction could be modified or a new recommendation presented to include grade 4. During discussion there was a motion to adjourn.
• Motion: To adjourn the meeting. Twenty-one voting members present at time of vote.
  • Yes:  17
  • No: 3
• Prior to adjourning the meeting, the committee approved without objection posting of the April meeting minutes after review by ISD staff who were present.

Closing Remarks

FLECAC members were thanked for their service on the committee this year.

Meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m.