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SHAC subcommittee recommends considering one‑time presentations instead of five‑day 'Choosing the Best' curriculum
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Summary
A SHAC subcommittee proposed recommending to the school board that Waxahachie ISD replace the five‑lesson Choosing the Best curriculum with a single‑session, presentation‑style format (similar to YES) to boost participation; the committee could not vote at the meeting due to agenda and bylaw constraints.
Members of the SHAC subcommittee reported that they reviewed the district’s current Choosing the Best human sexuality curriculum (a five‑lesson format) and recommended the council consider asking the school board to adopt a single‑session, presentation‑style delivery like the YES program.
The subcommittee cited declining participation since the district moved to opt‑in models, the age of some Choosing the Best materials, and cost‑participation trade‑offs as reasons for proposing the change. A subcommittee member said the committee had reduced the district’s lessons to a short set of five topics for junior high discovery classes but thought a modern, one‑time presentation could be more engaging for students and improve opt‑in rates.
Committee members discussed specifics the subcommittee would propose if the SHAC forwards a recommendation: offering one‑time presentations at grades 7, 9 and 12 (the subcommittee’s preferred grade bands), keeping required state‑mandated instruction in place for families who opt out, and tracking opt‑in/participation data over the next few years to evaluate the change.
SHAC members noted procedural limits: the subcommittee cannot vote at this meeting because the agenda did not include possible action and SHAC bylaws require at least 51% community membership to take votes; the subcommittee will check whether an email vote is permitted by their bylaws and otherwise plan to bring the proposal to the May meeting for a formal recommendation to the school board.
Committee members suggested practical steps to improve opt‑in rates — parent previews held earlier than student sessions, open‑house signage, virtual parent sessions, or asking families to return forms at orientation events — and said the district will continue required instruction for families who do not consent to the additional content.
No formal SHAC vote occurred at the meeting; the proposal remains at the subcommittee stage pending procedural clearance and possible action at a future meeting.
