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Clarke County school board debates Family Life Education; members consider approving middle- and high-school sections
Summary
Board members reviewed state guidance and local curriculum options for Family Life Education (FLE), discussed instructional ownership and opt-out rights, and heard a motion to approve the middle- and high-school portions while deferring elementary-level material for further study.
The Clarke County School Board discussed Family Life Education (FLE) at length during its October meeting, reviewing guidance from the Virginia Department of Education and hearing a range of concerns about who should teach sexual health topics and what materials are age-appropriate. A motion was made to approve the high-school and middle-school sections and to delay action on the elementary curriculum.
Board members and staff framed the debate around two central questions: what the Code of Virginia and the state Department of Education require, and how to ensure instructional ownership and parental transparency. A staff presenter summarized the VDOE review, noting the department's 2022 report and the state code references that guide local decisions on FLE. The presenter said the state allows local divisions discretion over whether to offer FLE, which grades to include and which curricula to use, while some topics are required when a division…
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