A proposed sex education program for Needham, Mass., public schools would expand instruction to more grades and add lessons on relationships in the age of social media, the Boston Globe reports.

The existing curriculum includes lessons about puberty for fifth-grade students, as well as some courses on topics such as human anatomy, sexually transmitted infections and abstinence for sixth, ninth and 11th graders. Next month, a subcommittee of the School Health Advisory Council will present the new plan to the district’s School Committee.

Kathy Pinkham, director of the district’s wellness department, said the proposed curriculum would build on the existing courses and add instruction for students in grades seven, eight, 10 and 12. The courses would encourage abstinence but be designed to acknowledge that some students will have sex outside of marriage. Teens need to be prepared to negotiate safe sex, both now and as adults, Pinkham added.

The new material involves information about delaying sex, having safer sex and developing healthy relationships as adults, Pinkham said. In addition, older students would be given information packets that they can take home to spur discussions with their parents, she added.

A pilot program could launch next semester, likely beginning with ninth and 10th graders. If the School Committee approves the plan, the full program would be implemented next fall, Pinkham said (Ballard, Boston Globe, 12/16).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.nationalpartnership.org. You can view the entire Daily Women’s Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women’s Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families.

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