What is currently required?
No sexual health content is currently required for grades K-3.
If districts choose to provide sexual health education, it must be consistent with new CSHE requirements.
New Requirements
Beginning in the 2022-23 school year, schools must provide social emotional learning (SEL) to students in grades K-3, consistent with SEL Standards and Benchmarks. SEL provides skills to do things like cope with feelings, set goals, and get along with others. No sexuality content or curriculum will be required, although districts may choose to offer additional instruction in alignment with K-12 Learning Standards for Health Education.
What is currently required?
The only instruction currently required is HIV/STD prevention, which must start no later than 5th grade and be provided annually through 12th grade. If districts choose to provide additional sexual health education, it must be consistent with new CSHE requirements.
New Requirements
Beginning in the 2020-21 school year, If schools are already providing sexual health education they must ensure that students get age-appropriate instruction on affirmative consent and bystander training.
Affirmative consent as defined in SB 5395 is an approach to giving and receiving consent that includes clear, voluntary, enthusiastic permission to engage in sexual activity. It is not just the absence of “no.” Since most 4th and 5th grade students are not engaged in sexual activity, age-appropriate instruction might focus on hugs or horseplay, hand-holding, kissing or other touch, as well as virtual contact such as texts or emails or taking photos. Bystander training teaches students how to safely intervene when they see bullying, sexual harassment or unwanted physical touch. These topics are included in this legislation as a way for schools to combat the high rates of unwanted sexual contact experienced by youth in our state.
Beginning in the 2022-23 school year, schools must start providing comprehensive sexual health education no later than 5th grade. Instruction must be consistent with Health Education K-12 Learning Standards. Grade-level outcomes are provided as examples only and do not represent a required course of instruction.
Required topics of instruction are described in SB 5395, with a focus on helping students understand and respect personal boundaries, develop healthy friendships, and gain a basic understanding of human growth and development. Currently required HIV/STD prevention instruction will continue to be required.
For more information, see New Legislation: Senate Bill 5395.
What is currently required?
The only instruction currently required is HIV/STD prevention, which must start no later than 5th grade and be provided annually through 12th grade.
If districts choose to provide additional sexual health education, it must be consistent with new CSHE requirements. Additionally, according to RCW 28A.300.145, instruction must include "age-appropriate information about the legal elements of sexual [sex] offenses (under chapter 9A.44 RCW) where a minor is a victim and the consequences upon conviction."
New Requirements
Beginning in the 2020-21 school year, If schools are already providing sexual health education they must ensure that students get age-appropriate instruction on affirmative consent and bystander training.
Affirmative consent is an approach to giving and receiving consent that includes clear, voluntary, enthusiastic permission to engage in sexual activity. It is not just the absence of “no.” In 6th through 8th grades it might focus on hugs, hand-holding, kissing or sexual touch, as well as virtual contact such as texts or emails or taking photos. Bystander training teaches students how to safely intervene when they see bullying, sexual harassment or unwanted sexual contact. They are included in this legislation as a way for schools to combat the high rates of unwanted sexual contact experienced by youth in our state.
Beginning in the 2021-22 school year, schools must start providing comprehensive sexual health education at least twice in grades 6-8. Ideally this would be a unit of instruction in at least two different grades, and there are many possible strategies for providing all required content. Best practice suggests providing instruction over time, building on earlier instruction. Instruction must be consistent with Health Education K-12 Learning Standards. Grade-level outcomes are provided as examples only and do not represent a required course of instruction.
Required topics of instruction are described in SB 5395, with a focus on helping students understand and respect personal boundaries, develop healthy friendships and dating relationships, gain a deeper understanding of human growth and development, develop skills to support choosing healthy behaviors and reduce health risks, including abstinence and other STD/pregnancy prevention approaches, and understanding the influence of family and society on healthy sexual relationships. Currently required HIV/STD prevention instruction will continue to be required.
For more information, please see New Legislation: Senate Bill 5395.
What is currently required?
The only instruction currently required is HIV/STD prevention, which must start no later than 5th grade and be provided annually through 12th grade.
If districts choose to provide additional sexual health education, it must be consistent with new CSHE requirements. Additionally, according to RCW 28A.300.145, instruction must include "age-appropriate information about the legal elements of sexual [sex] offenses (under chapter 9A.44 RCW) where a minor is a victim and the consequences upon conviction."
New Requirements
Beginning in the 2020-21 school year, If schools are already providing sexual health education they must ensure that students get age-appropriate instruction on affirmative consent and bystander training.
Affirmative consent is an approach to giving and receiving consent that includes clear, voluntary, enthusiastic permission to engage in sexual activity. It is not just the absence of “no.” In high school it might focus on hand-holding, kissing or sexual touch/activity, as well as virtual contact such as texts or emails or taking photos. Bystander training teaches students how to safely intervene when they see bullying, sexual harassment or unwanted sexual contact. They are included in this legislation as a way for schools to combat the high rates of unwanted sexual contact experienced by youth in our state.
Beginning in the 2021-22 school year, schools must start providing comprehensive sexual health education at least twice in grades 9-12. Ideally this would be a unit of instruction in at least two different grades, and there are many possible strategies for providing all required content. Best practice suggests providing instruction over time, building on earlier instruction. Instruction must be consistent with Health Education K-12 Learning Standards. Grade-level outcomes are provided as examples only and do not represent a required course of instruction.
Required topics of instruction are described in SB 5395, with a focus on helping students understand and respect personal boundaries, develop healthy friendships and dating relationships, gain a deeper understanding of human growth and development, develop skills to support choosing healthy behaviors and reduce health risks, including abstinence and other STD/pregnancy prevention methods, how to access valid health care and prevention resources and understanding the influence of family and society on healthy sexual relationships. Currently required HIV/STD prevention instruction will continue to be required.
For more information, please see New Legislation: Senate Bill 5395.