The board heard a presentation of revised Family Life guides developed by a committee that met this year. The presenter explained the committee’s recommendation to add family‑life instruction to elementary grades 4 and 5, while preserving parent review and opt‑out rights.

The committee’s stated goals were to provide transparent, age‑appropriate materials and to reduce misinformation by giving students perspectives and factual instruction on personal safety and human growth. The committee noted that surrounding divisions already teach family life at lower grade levels and cited the earlier average age of puberty (girls: roughly 8–13; boys: 9–14) as one rationale for introducing limited elementary instruction. Committee materials also address topics required by the Board of Education standards, including child‑safety skills, puberty changes, basic reproductive biology and prevention‑oriented messages about sexual activity.

The proposed approach limits elementary Family Life to grades 4–5. Lessons would include an explicit statement that what is taught must appear in the approved guide; materials and lesson summaries are to be posted on school websites and kept in school offices for parental review. The presenter said teachers will receive training; the committee scheduled a September 19 training with an outside organization (Freedom 4:24) that provides prevention education focused on exploitation and trafficking.

Board members asked practical questions, including how the division will provide male/female same‑sex instruction when some elementary sites lack male staff. The presenter said staff are working on logistics including sharing staff across schools or using secondary staff as needed. Board members also asked about digital safety topics (sexting, Internet risks) and the presenter said internet safety is covered in secondary standards and in other division programs; the presenter agreed to confirm whether aspects of online safety will be included for grades 4–5.

No policy change was adopted at this meeting. The board asked staff to continue stakeholder communication, and the presenter said the matter will return to the board as an action item in September following committee review and planned teacher training.