Florida, why you gotta be so stupid? We know it doesn’t work.

This email is to inform you of recent changes and additions to Board Policy 4.10, which includes Comprehensive Health Education for students in grades K-12 and will go into effect in the 2025-26 school year. Most updates center around reproductive health and disease prevention education and were approved by the School Board at its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, May 6.

Policy Defines Instruction as Abstinence-Based, Clarifies Instruction by Grade

In accordance with Florida law, the district has consistently upheld abstinence as the expected standard in its educational programming. The Board policy now explicitly affirms that the district’s instruction is abstinence-based and promotes sexual abstinence. Additionally, the policy stipulates that “instruction shall include all information required by Florida State Statutes,” which encompasses, but is not limited to, education on the risks and prevention of pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections and diseases, and other relevant topics.

The updated policy additionally clarifies the district’s ongoing practices in providing current, research-based, age, and developmentally appropriate information about AIDS, HIV, and other sexually transmitted diseases and infections to students in grades 6-12. In contrast, students in grades K-5 will receive instruction on the prevention and spread of common communicable diseases, like the flu.

Separating Middle School Students by Gender for Reproductive Health and Disease Prevention

An addition to Board Policy 4.10 states the superintendent will implement procedures allowing students in grades 6-8 to be separated by gender during reproductive health and disease prevention instruction. This is in accordance with Florida State Statute 1000.05 (2)(d).

Ways Parents Can Learn About and Opt Children Out of Instruction

While it has long been the district’s practice to notify parents about reproductive health and disease prevention instruction and provide them with the option to opt their child out, the updated policy now clearly outlines these procedures. The new language enhances transparency and ensures consistency across schools by detailing how and when parents are informed, as well as the steps required to decline participation. Among the policy’s requirements:

Parents will receive the opportunity to preview material prior to instruction on the district’s website.

Schools will disseminate information regarding instructional materials through welcome back packets or other official school communications.

No later than two weeks prior to instruction, schools will provide formal notice to parents using two of the three methods: (1) Hard copy correspondence sent home with students, (2) Push notifications through the district’s student information system, and/or (3) Electronic distribution via email or other district-approved digital platforms.

Parents can expect to see changes go into effect in the fall. To read Board Policy 4.10 in its entirety, view Chapter 4 in the board policy handbook.

Maybe someone should tell the folks in The Villages that abstinence is the way to go. You know, for God and stuff.