Grades 6-8: FLASH, HIV/AIDS Curriculum Review

Parents and guardians of students in grades 6-8: Your child’s teacher will be teaching the district adopted FLASH (Family Life and Sexual Health) and HIV/AIDS curriculum during this school year. We hosted two information sessions, which gave parents/guardians an opportunity to examine the instructional materials and view the videos that may be used. These sessions were on October 3 and October 5 at the Issaquah School District Administration Building. If you were unable to attend one of these sessions, the curriculum materials will be available to preview in the lobby of the District Administration Building during business hours, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily from May 1 to June 18. Due to copyright laws, the detailed FLASH lessons and units cannot be shared electronically.

Location: Issaquah School District Administration Center, 5150 220th AVE SE, Issaquah, WA 98029.

FLASH Instruction: 

Under the Federal Hatch Amendment of 1974, all sexual education instructional materials must be available for parent inspection. Parents have the right to exempt their child from sexual health education instruction at any time. The public viewings provide a centralized opportunity to do so.  While it is not required for you to attend the parent preview to exempt your child from sexual education, it is necessary to submit your request in writing to your school principal. This must be done each year. To opt out of FLASH, please email your request to opt out to your student's principal and health teacher.  You may opt out of the entire FLASH unit or individual lessons.  

 

HIV/AIDS Instruction:

Please note – the process of exempting your child from HIV/AIDS education is treated separately from exempting your child from sexual education. 

In recognition of the significant threat that the HIV/AIDS virus presents to the health of the people of our nation, the Washington state legislature passed the Omnibus AIDS Bill in 1988.  This law directs local school districts to provide yearly instruction to students in grades 5-12 about the pathology and prevention of the HIV/AIDS virus.  The law requires that parents/guardians must preview the HIV/AIDS curriculum which is found within the FLASH curriculum, before exempting your child.  This must be done each year. Click here for the opt out form for HIV/AIDS.  

 

It is not necessary for parents to attend a public review session if they do not intend to exempt their children from HIV/AIDS instruction.  Being familiar with the curriculum will enhance your ability to talk with your children about this serious health threat.  FLASH curriculum can be previewed through the King County Department of Public Health website.

 

Anyone with questions about FLASH or HIV/AIDS Instruction for middle school may contact Dawn Wallace, Wallaced@issaquah.wednet.edu, or 425-837-7043.