Q: What is 5th grade health curriculum? Is my child going to be taught sex education? I thought that subject is taught in 8th grade.
A: The proposed 5th grade curriculum will focus on the following subjects:
Hygiene
Nutrition
Growth & Development (Puberty)
Internet Safety (Human Trafficking)
Social Influences (Self-esteem, Body Image)
Healthy Communication
Relationships
Importantly, the curriculum teaches students to identify sexual abuse and harassment. It includes information that helps children recognize and report inappropriate touching/contact, including child abuse.
However, there is other information in the 8th grade curriculum that is not age appropriate at the 5th grade level.
Topics required by the California Healthy Youth Act (CHYA) will also be addressed. (See information below this FAQ.)
Q: Why is Modesto City Schools introducing this teaching?
A: This curriculum is widely taught to 5th grade students throughout California and is considered valuable in helping young people understand and navigate the physical changes that come with puberty, and to learn in an age-appropriate, supportive, educational setting. This curriculum also empowers students to be safe – if they are informed, they can recognize and report any incident of inappropriate physical/sexual contact by someone else.
Q: How did the district select this curriculum?
A: This curriculum is being recommended for adoption by a committee made up of parents, teachers, and members of our Board of Education. The committee reviewed four curriculum options and narrowed their choices to two:
Puberty Talk for Grades 5 & 6
Puberty: The Wonder Years, Grade 5
The committee is recommending Puberty Talk for Grades 5 & 6, however, the final decision on curriculum adoption will be made by the Board of Education.
Q: Can parents see this curriculum?
A: Yes, both options are available for public preview beginning Tuesday, May 27, through Friday, June 20 (except June 19, which is a holiday.) Families are welcome to drop by the department of Curriculum & Instruction, Professional Development (CIPD), Building B, at 1017 Reno Avenue and request to review the curriculum.
From May 27 through June 20, hours will be from Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
In addition, there will be opportunities to preview the curriculum during extended hours and on Saturdays. Please see the specific extended days and hours below.
Date | Day of the Week | Open |
May 27 | Tuesday | Until 7:00 p.m. |
May 31 | Saturday | 8:00 am - 12:00 pm |
June 3 | Tuesday | Until 7:00 p.m. |
June 7 | Saturday | 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm |
June 12 | Thursday | Until 7:00 p.m. |
June 14 | Saturday | 8:00 am - 12:00 pm |
June 20 | Friday | Until 7:00 p.m. |
Q: Can’t I just get a copy of the curriculum emailed to me?
A: We have limited copies available for public review. This is copyrighted material and Modesto City Schools does not own the copyright – distribution rights belong to the publisher. To help accommodate busy parents, the district has ensured preview availability after normal business hours and on several Saturdays, as shown above.
Q: When will the Board take this up?
A: The Board will meet on June 9 to hear more about the recommended curriculum and hear from the community. The Board will vote on the curriculum at its following meeting, on June 23. Members of the community are welcome to attend all meetings of the MCS Board of Education, and there is time allotted for public comment. Also, if you wish to view the livestream, you may do so at this link.
Q: What if the Board chooses the curriculum and I don’t like it?
A: In accordance with the California Healthy Youth Act (CHYA), parents have the right to opt their children out of this instruction. Your child will bring home an opt-out form at least fourteen days before the start of the lessons, and the school will also provide that form to you via Parent Square. Please note that this is an opt-out process, not an opt-in, so no action is required on your part unless you choose to withdraw your child from the curriculum.
Additional Information
Summary of the California Healthy Youth Act Requirements
The California Healthy Youth Act (CHYA), California Education Code § 51930-51939) requires schools to teach the following when offering health education:
Age-Appropriate Content: Instruction and materials must be suitable for the cognitive and developmental levels of students.
Medically Accurate and Objective: All information must be fact-based, scientifically accurate, and free from bias.
Inclusive of Diverse Identities: Content must be appropriate for students of all races, genders, sexual orientations, ethnicities, and cultural backgrounds.
Accessible for English Learners: Materials and instruction must be equally available to English language learners.
Accessible for Students with Disabilities: Content must be adapted to meet the needs of students with disabilities, including modified curricula or alternative formats.
Encourage Communication with Trusted Adults: Lessons must promote discussions about human sexuality with parents, guardians, or other trusted adults and provide skills for these conversations.
Recognize Diverse Sexual Orientations: Instruction must affirmatively acknowledge different sexual orientations and include same-sex relationships in discussions and examples.
Teach Gender Concepts: Content must cover gender, gender expression, gender identity, and the harm of negative stereotypes.
Promote Committed Relationships: Lessons must teach the value of and prepare students for committed relationships, such as marriage.
Healthy Relationship Skills: Provide knowledge and skills to form healthy, violence-free relationships.
Decision-Making Skills: Equip students with strategies for making healthy sexual decisions, including negotiation and refusal skills to resist peer pressure and avoid high-risk activities.
No Religious Doctrine: Instruction must not teach or promote religious beliefs.
No Bias: Content must not reflect or promote bias against individuals based on disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, or sexual orientation.