Fulton schools proposes updates to controversial sex ed curriculum

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Fulton County school board members are looking to update the district’s sex education curriculum.

School district leaders have proposed changes that would include the most up-to-date statistical information on sex-related topics. The changes would also include newer photos, videos and other visual aides.

Fulton fifth-graders cover “Human Growth & Development,” which includes two gender-specific videos “built on a comprehensive approach that focuses on growth and development, including puberty and anatomy of the male and female reproductive systems,” according to Fulton school officials.

The sex ed curriculum for sixth-12th graders is called "Choosing the Best," which Fulton officials describe as a "comprehensive, evidence-based, abstinence-centered instructional program" designed to expose students to sex education "through a risk avoidance approach."

Parents have until Sept. 21 to provide feedback on the proposed changes. Fulton school board members could vote on the changes in October.

School system leaders are not presenting details of the proposed changes via the district's website. Instead, print and digital resources will be displayed for public review at 13 schools and other sites across the district. Parents, teachers and other interested parties can submit input via surveys.

“Choosing the Best” focuses on teaching students to abstain from sex until marriage. It has been criticized nationally and locally by advocates of comprehensive sex education. They say its approach to contraception and prevention could discourage students who do decide to have sex from protecting themselves from pregnancy and diseases.

Nearly a decade ago, a group of DeKalb County parents protested the use of “Choosing the Best,” and the district dropped the curriculum. Fulton adopted the “Choosing the Best” sex ed curriculum in 2001.

Tasha Guadalupe, health and physical education coordinator for Fulton schools, said as part of the “Choosing the Best” curriculum “contraceptives are mentioned. It’s not something we’re showing them how to use or anything of that nature. It’s simply mentioned, basically for what’s out there. But it’s still that abstinence-centered approach.”

“The state of Georgia requires us to cover human sexuality and HIV AIDs prevention. Each (school) district is different in how they want to adopt it. In Fulton, we have an abstinence-centered approach and everything is geared toward abstinence … We promote abstaining from sex until marriage.”