Instructional Materials, Review Reports, and Tools

Contact Information

Sexual Health Education

Laurie Dils

360-725-6364

The Washington State Legislature requires districts, when providing comprehensive sexual health education, to use "speakers, curriculum and materials" that are medically and scientifically accurate and otherwise in compliance with the provisions of the law (RCW 28A.300.475). The AIDS Omnibus Act requires that HIV materials be medically accurate, as determined by the Office on AIDS, which is housed at the Washington Department of Health (DOH).

In partnership with DOH, OSPI conducts regular reviews of instructional materials to support districts in meeting state requirements for the delivery of sexual health education, including HIV prevention education. For information about why and how instructional materials reviews are conducted, see About the State-Level Sexual Health Education Curriculum Reviews.

OSPI does not "approve" or recommend curricula or other instructional materials. Districts are encouraged to review all instructional materials before adoption/use to ensure their suitability for use in the district.

Inclusion of a title in a review does not constitute "approval" for district use. Please see comments and scores to determine consistency with requirements. Exclusion of a title in a review does not constitute lack of consistency with state requirements.

Summaries of Reviewed Curricula

  • The 2021-23 Reviewed SHE Instructional Materials List includes titles reviewed after new requirements for comprehensive sexual health education went into effect.
  • The 2017-19 Reviewed SHE Instructional Materials List includes titles reviewed prior to new requirements going into effect. These titles are worth considering for use in schools, but should be re-reviewed using up-to-date review tools linked on this site. Titles should also be reviewed with current medical/scientific accuracy in mind. Medical accuracy reviews conducted at the district level should be done by a panel of clinical content experts, in accordance with state law.

Curriculum Review Reports

Required Sexual Health Curriculum Review Tools

Districts conducting their own reviews of sexual health education materials (rather than using OSPI-reviewed materials) must use OSPI-developed instructional materials review tools.

NOTE: As with all school district curricula, sexual health education instructional materials, including HIV/AIDS prevention, must also be reviewed by the school district instructional materials committee for bias as provided in the Basic Education Law (RCW 28A.150.240), the Instructional Materials Law (RCW 28A.320.230), and the Sex Equity Law (RCW 28A.640.010).

Additional Resources

For general guidance on selecting instructional materials, please visit OSPI's Instructional Material Reviews and Supports page and our Sexual Health Education Resources page.

Sexual Abuse Prevention Curriculum Review

Erin’s Law charged OSPI with reviewing curricula related to sexual abuse/sexual violence prevention. With the assistance of a panel of expert reviewers representing school districts and community-based sexual abuse prevention specialists, the Erin’s Law Curriculum Review was completed in 2018.