Modesto board hears heated public backlash over proposed fifth‑grade health curriculum; committee recommended 'Puberty Talk'

The Modesto City Schools board on June 9 reviewed a recommendation from its fifth‑grade health committee to adopt Puberty Talk (Health Connected, 2021) as the fifth‑grade curriculum and opened a capped public comment period that drew dozens of speakers on both sides.

Dr. Sarah Olsen, senior director of curriculum and instruction, told the board the 18‑member committee met five times and voted 10–5 to recommend Puberty Talk. She said the curriculum meets the California Healthy Youth Act (Education Code 51938) requirements, will be available for public review through June 20 at the district office, and that parents may opt children out of any or all instruction covered by state law.

The public comment period that followed was sharply divided. Abby Silvers, a member of the committee, told trustees: "The only curriculum the committee formally recommended is Puberty Talk in its complete form," and said missing sections presented to the public were not approved by the committee. Several parents and community members read passages they called age‑inappropriate, while other parents and educators urged adoption, citing the need for medically accurate instruction and an opt‑out right. One commenter read an excerpt discussing masturbation from the curriculum; another, a parent and committee member, urged the board to adopt the full curriculum as recommended.

Board members repeatedly asked how other districts use the materials, whether elements such as gender identity can be opted out of separately, and whether local supplemental materials would be added. Legal counsel advised the audience and trustees that because the posted agenda item was a report (not an action), the board could not take a binding vote that night without re‑noticing the matter; trustees said final action would be agendized for the June 23 meeting.

What happens next: The district will continue public previews through June 20, and the board is expected to consider adoption on June 23. Parents wishing to exclude a child must use the district's opt‑out process; the board was told state law defines certain requirements for notification and for what must be taught if the district chooses to provide the instruction at fifth grade.

Quotes: "The only curriculum that the committee formally recommended is Puberty Talk in its complete form," said Abby Silvers, a committee member who attended all five meetings. "At no point did we vote to recommend Puberty the Wonder Years as a consideration."

"Parents have the legal right to opt their child out of any or all parts of this instruction," Dr. Olsen said, referencing Education Code 51938.

Ending: The district will keep the curriculum on public review and return the item to the board for action at its June 23 meeting. The board instructed staff to continue public communication about where materials can be reviewed and how parents can exercise opt‑out rights.