Notification Letter for Health & Sexuality Education

Notification of Growth and Development and

Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Curriculum (Fifth Grade)

Dear Parent or Guardian:

Portland Public School District (PPS) is committed to creating safe and healthy learning environments

to support the growth and development of every student. Health literacy, the ability to access, understand,

appraise, apply and advocate for health information and services in order to maintain or enhance one's

own health and the health of others is a critical component of education in PPS; one that is necessary

to build skills and provide functional knowledge for students to be healthy throughout their lives.

PPS also recognizes the role of inclusive and comprehensive sexuality education in promoting health equity,

supporting healthy development, and preventing violence.

This school year your child will receive growth and development education and child sexual abuse

prevention curriculum as part of Portland Public School’s health education and in alignment with

state and district requirements.

Oregon Statutes

Oregon’s Human Sexuality Law (ORS 336.455, 2009), the Healthy Teen Relationship Act (ORS 339.366, 2013),

and Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Law (ORS 336.059, 2015) collectively contribute to Oregon

Department of Education’s (ODE) Human Sexuality Administrative Rule (OAR-581-022-2050) and health

education content standards and performance indicators. Under these laws, school districts are required to

provide “a comprehensive plan of instruction focusing on human sexuality education” which is “complete,

balanced, and medically accurate.”

The Oregon health education content standards (revised December 2016) ensure that comprehensive

sexuality education teaches students positive attitudes and behaviors related to healthy relationships

and sexuality, by using age-appropriate, and culturally inclusive materials, language, and methods. 

Aligned to national standards, Oregon’s performance indicators are additionally aimed at preventing

sexual violence and promoting student safety.

PPS Policy and Implementation Plan

PPS Board Policy 6.40.013-P (passed in June 2018) and the PPS Comprehensive Sexuality Education Plan

were developed by teachers, school administrators, local and state health departments, staff and other

professionals from the medical community knowledgeable in the latest scientific information and effective

education strategies and in accordance with federal, state, and district laws, policies, health education

standards, local and district data sources, and current best practices.

School-Home-Community

You are welcome to contact your child’s teacher to preview the curriculum materials before or during their

implementation. Portland Public Schools acknowledges that parents/guardians are the primary sexuality

educators for their child/children and we are committed to partnering with you to provide supplementary

resources to support you in this role.

Any parent may request that his/her child be excused from that portion of the instructional program under

the procedures set forth in ORS 336.035 (2), specifically those lessons concerning sexually transmitted

diseases including recognition of causes, sources and symptoms, and the availability of diagnostic and

treatment centers.

Sincerely,

Jenny Withycombe, PhD

Academic Program Administrator, Health and Physical Education

Portland Public Schools

_____________________________________________________

Opt Out Form – Fifth Grade

Please print, sign, and return to Ms. Smith

• Rights, Respect, Responsibility
• Sexual and Reproductive Anatomy
• Puberty and Reproduction
• Learning about HIV
• What is Love Anyway?

I wish for my child, ___________________________________________________, to be excused from the lessons above.

Parent/Guardian Signature: __________________________  Date: __________________