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Recommended sex ed curriculum withdrawn; DCPS will draft their own version

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Duval County School District plans to create its own curriculum to teach your child sex education.

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The district was originally set to talk about a recommended curriculum at tonight’s school board meeting, but then at the last minute, pulled it from the agenda.

Although they took it off of the agenda, 100 people still spoke out in favor and against the plan. Superintendent Diane Greene also spoke during the meeting and told community members why the change was made.

The school district had sex education divided up into elementary, middle, and also high school grade levels.

But some groups were calling to change the curriculum citing “pornographic” material.

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DCPS posted a tweet just hours before a scheduled board meeting tonight.

The reproductive health supplementary materials agenda item has been removed from tonight’s board meeting agenda. Instead of adopting this material, the district will create its own.

Greene explained why the district decided to go in a different direction.

“Our requirements when we teach state standards. As superintendent, it is also my responsibility to make sure my staff feels they can move forward in a positive manner,” says Greene.

Greene added she was not confident that was going to happen with the planned curriculum changes, so the district had to take other actions.

“The required topics will be developed by internal curriculum writing teams with our health educators,” says Greene.

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A 2021 survey showed that around 11 percent of middle schoolers in Duval county and 33 percent of high schoolers have had sex.

We looked into the original curriculum that was set to be recommended.

It dives into lessons about STDs, sexual differences, consent, abstinence using condoms, and pregnancy options.

We heard from Katy Hathaway who said that she thinks these courses being inside DCPS for 9 years helps students.

“Information saves lives, it’s why we teach math, reading, and science. It’s why we teach sex ed,” says Hathaway.

But Brain Murrell doesn’t agree.

“Let us allow parents to do their jobs at home in the early years,” says Murrell.

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According to DCPS, they have until the end of this school year to create the new curriculum for students. It will be provided to the public 20 days before board members vote on it.


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