Health Education Curriculum
On May 8, 2019 the State Board of Education adopted new health education guidance for K-12 teachers called the "Health Education Curriculum Framework." The guidance is designed to make classrooms more inclusive and help students access the knowledge and skills necessary to grow into healthy adults.
We hope that the information provided below helps answer many of the questions our families have about what these new statewide policy changes mean for health education and what we teach in Washington Unified.
Resources:
Health Education Curriculum Framework
Health Education Curriculum Framework
The Health Education Framework is aligned to the 2008 California Health Education Content Standards, which support the development of knowledge, skills, and attitudes in eight overarching standards: (1) essential health concepts; (2) analyzing health influences; (3) accessing valid health information; (4) interpersonal communication; (5) decision making; (6) goal setting; (7) practicing health-enhancing behaviors; and (8) health promotion in six content areas of health education: nutrition and physical activity; growth, development, and sexual health; injury prevention and safety; alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs; mental, emotional, and social health; and personal and community health in the 2008 Health Education Content Standards, which can be downloaded from the Curriculum Frameworks and Instructional Resources Division Content Standards web page.
Understanding California's Health Education Initiatives: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - This FAQ provides answers to frequently asked questions about the California Healthy Youth Act and the 2019 Health Education Framework.
The California Healthy Youth Act 2016 (CHYA)
The California Healthy Youth Act 2016 (CHYA)
The adoption of the California Healthy Youth Act 2016 (California Education Code [EC] sections 51930–51939) requires school districts to ensure that all students in grades seven through twelve, inclusive, receive comprehensive sexual health education and HIV prevention education.
Elementary School: It is permissible to teach knowledge and skills related to comprehensive sexual health and HIV prevention education in grades kindergarten through grade six (K–6), inclusive. All instruction and materials in grades K–6 must meet the instructional criteria or baseline requirements in EC Section 51933. Content that is required in grades 7–12 may be also be included in an age-appropriate way in earlier grades. (EC sections 51933, 51934[b].)
Elementary School: It is permissible to teach knowledge and skills related to comprehensive sexual health and HIV prevention education in grades kindergarten through grade six (K–6), inclusive. All instruction and materials in grades K–6 must meet the instructional criteria or baseline requirements in EC Section 51933. Content that is required in grades 7–12 may be also be included in an age-appropriate way in earlier grades. (EC sections 51933, 51934[b].)
For information on the California Healthy Youth Act, please visit the CDE Comprehensive Sexual Health & HIV/AIDS Instruction web page or the California Legislative Information web page.