East Troy board approves advisory committee recommendation to retain comprehensive human growth and development curriculum

The East Troy Community School District Board of Education on Monday approved a recommendation from a 25-member Human Growth and Development Advisory Committee to continue the district’s current comprehensive human growth and development curriculum.

Presenter (speaker 12) told the board the committee met three times, reviewed state statutes and youth-risk behavior data, and reached consensus that the district should retain a program that teaches abstinence while also covering contraceptives and sexually transmitted infection prevention. "The team came to a consensus around maintaining the district's programming as comprehensive *** education," the presenter said.

Committee member Anna Kasopoulos Janice moved to accept the committee recommendation; Committee member (speaker 9) seconded the motion and the board approved it by voice vote.

Board members asked how parents can exercise opt-out rights. Presenter (speaker 12) said, "Parents can opt out of any type of human growth and development curriculum," and described plans to direct parents to teachers for information, to send proactive letters before milestone lessons, and to publish a dedicated human growth and development webpage this fall with grade-level talking points for families.

The recommendation’s materials, included in the meeting packet, note that the committee also reviewed the district’s scope and sequence and suggested communication tools to increase transparency between school and home. The board approved the recommendation as presented; no amendments or changes to the curriculum’s scope were recorded at the meeting.

The board’s action means the district will continue with the current curriculum for the coming school year while implementing the family-communication steps discussed by the advisory team.