In April 2020, the State Board of Education issued Proclamation 2022, which calls for the adoption of new health and physical education instructional materials aligned with updated curriculum in classrooms for the 2022-23 academic year. The State Board of Education adopted one choice for health instructional materials for Health I, which the district and community will review to determine what should be included while still meeting state requirements for education.
Texas Health Skills for High School published by Goodheart-Willcox Co. is the approved resource to pull from and develop a curriculum. There also is a potential supplemental curriculum material pulled from LifeGuard, an Austin-based program that informs teens about risks, potential consequences of sexual activity, according to its website. EISD will not be reviewing or considering any other instructional materials, according to its website.
Parents, students and community members will have the opportunity to review these materials and submit their feedback through an online portal as well as during at least two in-person meetings that will be conducted in March and April. The feedback window on the website closes March 25.
Recommendations from the advisory council are anticipated to be given at the April 12 board meeting, followed by potential adoption of the recommendations at the April 26 meeting.
In 2009, Texas removed the requirement of a health class for graduation. At that time, the board of trustees took action to require a health course for all students that includes instruction included in the Health Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, a health curriculum developed by the State Board of Education.
