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SHAC recommends 'Choosing the Best' curriculum; board to vote at next meeting
Summary
The Lake Travis ISD School Health Advisory Council recommended adopting Choosing the Best for the district's human sexuality curriculum after multi‑month review; committee cited TEKS alignment, facilitator model and cost as primary reasons.
The Lake Travis ISD School Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) recommended that the board adopt Choosing the Best as the district’s human sexuality curriculum for the 2025–26 year, citing TEKS alignment, teacher feedback and the availability of third‑party facilitators.
Jennifer Garrigan, director of counseling and health services, and SHAC subcommittee members described a months‑long review process that compared three curriculum partners: Choosing the Best (the provider formerly branded Lifeguard), Living Well Aware, and Goodheart‑Willcox. The committee examined instructional hours, cost, teacher training needs, TEKS alignment and community input.
Karina Semp and Jody Dover summarized the review findings: Goodheart‑Willcox was removed early due to cost and implementation complexity; Living Well Aware scored well on instruction quality but would have required extra teacher time and a ninth‑grade gap; Choosing the Best met state TEKS, provided facilitator‑led lessons, and was free to the district because the vendor secures grant funding for facilitation.
SHAC reported survey and teacher‑focus‑group results: among respondents, teachers provided most of the input; the subcommittee said teacher reviewers favored Choosing the Best for its engagement and facilitator model. The SHAC’s vote returned 19 of 25 members in favor of recommending Choosing the Best for 2025–26.
Board trustees asked clarifying questions during the public hearing: compared with the district’s current materials, presenters said Choosing the Best offers more modern video and peer testimony content, and extends the number of facilitator sessions from four (current Lifeguard model) to six. Presenters said the district would coordinate scheduling with science teachers to minimize disruption to required testing and instructional time.
The board did not vote at the hearing; the SHAC recommendation will be placed on a future consent or action agenda for a formal board decision. Several trustees asked SHAC to follow up with the four members who abstained to gather written rationale before the board’s final vote.
Ending: SHAC members said public review sessions for parents remain open and invited further feedback before the board’s adoption vote.
