Family Resources

Curriculum & Instruction

Family Life Education

Family Life Education Summary
Participation Procedure

The York County School Division regulations permit a parent/guardian to withdraw their student from Family Life Education.

In order to have your student withdrawn from participating in the Family Life Education, complete the York County Family Life Education Participation form found on SchoolCash Online. Deadlines to submit forms will be set by individual school sites. Parents/guardians wishing to alter their student's participation in the Family Life Education program after the SchoolCash Online deadline must submit Form I-149 which can be obtained at the student's school.

Students in grades kindergarten to five who withdraw from Family Life Education may have an alternate reading, math, or health education plan of instruction in place of the Family Life Education lessons. Students in grade six, seven, or eight who are withdrawn by a parent/guardian may participate in a regularly scheduled physical education class or may be supervised by a YCSD staff member while the Family Life Education lessons are taught. Students who are withdrawn from Family Life Education for three or more consecutive days are expected to participate in the activities of the physical education class. Students who are withdrawn from Family Life Education lessons for fewer than three consecutive days may observe the physical education class or participate in another supervised activity approved by the physical education teacher. When the number of students in a physical education class is excessive, withdrawn students may be assigned a site for study time at the discretion of the principal. In situations where no physical education class is available, withdrawn students may be assigned a site for study time at the discretion of the principal. Students in grades nine through ten who have withdrawn for one or more lessons may participate in independent study in the school library.
Delivery of Instruction

In grades K through 5, Family Life Education lessons are taught by school counselors, classroom teachers in grades, and by health/physical education teachers in middle and high school. As appropriate, clinic personnel, science teachers, and Family & Consumer Science teachers may assist teachers regularly scheduled to deliver the Family Life Education lessons. As situations dictate, individual school principals may find it necessary to adjust the delivery of instruction for certain grade levels.

Students taking Family Life Education in grades K through fifth grade will not receive a grade. Students in middle and high school will be graded based on participation and the grades will be reflected in the student's health/physical education grade. Students who withdraw from one or more of the Family Life Education lessons may participate in an alternative assignment. Withdrawing from Family Life Education requires compliance with School Division procedures.

There will be no "make-up" lessons scheduled for students who are absent or for students who enroll in school after the Family Life Education lessons have been taught.

For Students Identified with Disabilities:

Virginia's standards for family life education provide a comprehensive, sequential K-12 curriculum. When considering the needs of students with disabilities, the IEP team will consider whether the student is currently receiving instruction in grade-level Health and Family Life Education and making progress commensurate with peers. During the IEP meeting, IEP teams must consider whether the student has a need for age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate instruction related to sexual health, self-restraint, self-protection, respect for personal privacy and personal boundaries of others. The IEP team may use the Self, Health, and Relationship Education (SHARE): Guidelines for the Consideration of Age Appropriate and Developmentally Appropriate Instruction to support the consideration process.

If the student is not provided access to the curriculum or has access but is not making progress, the IEP team will consider how access to grade-level instruction will be provided and consider any need for specially designed instruction including IEP goals and services; accommodations; and supplemental aids and/or services to ensure progress in age appropriate and developmentally appropriate instruction. If the student withdraws from Family Life Education lessons, they must comply with the school division's participation/ opt-out procedures.
Parent/Guardian Public Preview
Parents and guardians have the right to review the family life education program offered by their school division, including written and audio-visual educational materials used in the program. Parents and guardians also have the right to withdraw their student from all or part of family life education instruction.

In addition, each school will conduct a Family Life Education Information meeting for parents/guardian at an evening event at least two weeks prior to instruction. The orientation program will include:
- An overview of the Family Life Education program and lesson taught
- The identification of those lessons which are sex-separated.
- An explanation of who will teach Family Life Education
- A handout listing printed and audiovisual materials (which will be available for review).
- An explanation of the withdraw provision and the procedure by with parents may communicate a desire to have their child removed from a lesson/lessons of the Family Life Education program.
- Review of materials can be arranged at the school level.
Following the orientation program, each school will provide parents/ guardians opportunities to preview printed and digital materials relative to Family Life Education.

These materials will continue to be available for review in the schools during the regular school year by appointment with elementary school counselors or middle and high school librarians. Lessons for the entire Family Life Education program and the printed and digital materials will be available for review in each school during the hours of school operation by appointment with the school principal. In addition, anytime during regular operating hours, all lessons and printed/digital materials will also be available through the Family Life Education coordinator at the School Board Office. Appointments may be made by calling the main number at the School Board Office, 757-898-0300.

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