The Lynn Public Schools curriculum subcommittee voted to send a proposal to the full school committee that would pilot a health education program for 4th‑ and 5th‑grade students taught during the school day.

The pilot would use Girls Inc. materials (the STRIVE grant program plus the age‑appropriate Informed Together toolkit) and be delivered by trained Girls Inc. facilitators over 11–13 weekly sessions of about 45 minutes each. Lynn Public Schools nursing and physical education staff presented the proposal to the subcommittee and recommended a during‑school delivery during the physical education block to maximize access and equity.

District presenters said the pilot is designed to align with the Massachusetts Comprehensive Health and Physical Education (CHPE) framework and to give students earlier, age‑appropriate information on anatomy, puberty, menstruation, healthy relationships, consent and online safety. Lynn nursing staff showed school health data indicating gynecological visits for menses‑related issues among 4th and 5th graders and cited research that earlier puberty onset makes earlier education more relevant.

Girls Inc. described STRIVE as a Massachusetts Department of Public Health–funded initiative that emphasizes racial justice, health equity, reproductive justice, trauma‑informed care and positive youth development. Program materials would include a parent orientation, an opt‑in permission form (available in English and Spanish), pre‑ and post‑surveys required by the state grant, and pre‑session parent communications.

Deputy superintendent Marissa Ligotis and district nursing staff said students who do not opt in would receive the regular physical education curriculum during the pilot period. Subcommittee members asked about videos and materials in the toolkit; presenters said the age‑appropriate Informed Together curriculum would be used and that other video content (for other programs) would not be used for this elementary pilot. Presenters also said Girls Inc. currently delivers related curricula in Lynn secondary schools, and that the program can be offered during school hours or as an after‑school option but recommended in‑school implementation for equity.

The subcommittee approved a motion to refer the pilot to the Committee of the Whole for consideration by the full school committee. The motion included the following procedural points discussed at the meeting: the program would be opt‑in for parents; parent orientation and materials would be provided in English and Spanish; facilitators would be Girls Inc. staff trained in the selected toolkits; and the district would retain oversight of alignment with CHPE standards.

The full committee will review the pilot proposal in committee of the whole before any districtwide implementation decision. The presenters said that copies of materials and the opt‑in form would be shared with families and the committee as part of that referral.

Votes at a glance: Curriculum subcommittee — motion to move the 4th–5th grade pilot to Committee of the Whole: yes votes recorded: Member Dugan, Member Gately; Member Satterwhite absent. Outcome: approved to forward.