FLASH: Family Life and Sexual Health Curriculum

In many countries, how the reproductive system works is taught in biology or science classes. In other countries, sex education is totally absent or considered an extra-curricular lesson. Some nations only focus their school teachings on the biological aspect and do not include birth control or consent.

In the United States, schools' curriculum varies widely from state to state. In the Issaquah School District, the reproductive system and other related areas are covered in a class called Health. And FLASH is the sexual health education curriculum that is used, and that was developed by the Seattle & King County Public Health.

Sexual health instruction must be: Medically and scientifically accurate, Age appropriate, Appropriate for students regardless of gender, race, disability status, or sexual orientation and Consistent with the OSPI Guidelines for Sexual Health and Disease Prevention.

FLASH is designed for students in grades 5 through 12 and divided by grade level into three separate curricula: 5/6 FLASH, 7/8 FLASH, and High School FLASH. There is also a version for special education students ages 11- 21 in self-contained classes. Each curriculum contains approximately 20 lessons.

FLASH promotes a foundation of positive and healthy sexuality across the lifespan, focusing on the needs of public schools. The curricula, in developmentally appropriate lessons, focus on abstinence while also providing information on preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV.

All FLASH Lesson summaries can be found on King County Public Health Website: https://kingcounty.gov/ depts/health/locations/ family-planning/education/ FLASH.aspx

FLASH Instruction

FLASH recognizes that families have the important role of teaching values and expectations to their children. Therefore, the key part of FLASH is its strong family involvement component. In this link, you can find useful materials as family homework in different languages. https:// kingcounty.gov/depts/health/ locations/family-planning/ education/FLASH/parents.aspx

Under the Federal Hatch Amendment of 1974, all sexual education instructional materials must be available for parent inspection. And parents have the right to exempt their child from sexual education instruction at any time. The Issaquah School District will hold the 5th-grade FLASH materials parent preview on March 9 from 6:00- 7:30pm and again on March 11 from 9:00 -10:30am at the ISD Administration Building. The 5th-grade FLASH materials will be out for viewing in the month of March.

HIV/AIDS Instruction

In recognition of the significant threat that the HIV/AIDS virus presents to the health of the people of our nation, the Washington state legislature passed the Omnibus AIDS Bill in 1988. This law directs local school districts to provide yearly instruction to students in grades 5-12 about the pathology and prevention of the HIV/AIDS virus.

Parents do not need to attend a public reviewing session if they do not intend to exempt their children from HIV/AIDS instruction. But the Washington State Omnibus AIDS law requires a parent to attend a public viewing session and review the materials before such an exemption may be requested or granted.

Questions?

For Elementary: Contact your student’s teacher or the Director of Teaching and Learning, Michelle Pickard at 425-837-7076, or email her at pickardm@issaquah.wednet.edu.

For Middle School: Contact your student’s teacher or Director of Teaching and Learning, Dawn Wallace at 425-837-7043, or email her at WallaceD@issaquah.wednet.edu.

For High School: Contact your student's teacher or Director of CTE and Secondary STEM, Lisa Neighbours at 425-837-7046, or email at NeighboursL@issaquah. wednet.edu. 