SHAC recommends 'My Rights My Life' curriculum as opt‑in course for Leander ISD 18–22 transition students
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Summary
The School Health Advisory Committee recommended implementing My Rights My Life (SAFE Alliance collaboration) as an opt‑in elective for 18–22 transition students, proposing 27 of 32 lessons, accessibility edits, staff training and a one‑year pilot with pre/post evaluation.
The Leander ISD School Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) presented a recommendation to the board to adopt My Rights My Life — a web‑based healthy‑relationships curriculum developed in collaboration with SAFE Alliance and the Texas Council on Developmental Disabilities — for students in the district’s 18–22 transition services.
Denise Geiger, identified in the presentation as senior transition coordinator for special education, explained the committee evaluated three resources and recommended My Rights My Life after two public SHAC meetings (the committee reported public comment meetings on Dec. 8 and Feb. 9). The curriculum is designed for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and focuses on accessible instruction with simplified language, visual supports and concrete examples. Geiger said the committee proposed using 27 of the resource’s 32 lessons, and that all curriculum materials and facilitator resources would be provided at no cost.
Cody Valkovich, a parent and committee participant, described the materials’ aims and cited national statistics about abuse of people with disabilities to underline the program’s importance. Geiger said instruction would be opt‑in for the adult students (most of whom are age‑of‑majority guardians) and that the district plans an elective‑Friday structure that would offer the course every nine weeks. Staff training from SAFE Alliance was scheduled in the presentation for August 2026, and the committee proposed a one‑year implementation followed by an evaluation using pre/post knowledge surveys within six months.
SHAC presenters emphasized the curriculum’s accessibility, its focus on consent, boundaries, cyber safety and leadership for healthy relationships, and the district’s plan to provide family information and facilitator access codes for teachers and families. The board received the recommendation and discussion focused on process questions (how SHAC process differs from standard instructional material adoption, parental engagement and student involvement). Trustees were told the board will be asked to adopt the resource at a future meeting after final adjustments and additional feedback.