Senate Bill , passed by the Legislature and Washington voters in , went into effect on December 3, see Bulletin It requires all public schools to provide comprehensive sexual health education CSHE to all students by the —23 school year. By the school year, all schools must provide comprehensive sexual health education CSHE to all students. All students includes any student enrolled in a district or public charter school, such as those in special education programs, online learning or alternative learning experiences, etc.
Instruction must be consistent with Health Education K Learning Standards , which provide a framework for comprehensive instruction and the provisions of the law. Grade-level outcomes are provided as examples only and do not represent a required course of instruction. Instruction must also be age-appropriate, medically and scientifically accurate, and inclusive of all students, using language and strategies that recognize all members of protected classes.
Affirmative consent as defined in RCW 28A. Instruction in these grades does not need to address sexual behavior unless the district has decided to do so for a specific reason e. Bystander training teaches students how to safely intervene when they see bullying, sexual harassment, or unwanted physical touch. These topics are included in this legislation as a way for schools to combat the high rates of unwanted sexual contact experienced by youth in our state. A printable version of the CSHE Reporting Survey is available to support the collection of information needed for survey completion.
Beginning after the school year, OSPI must summarize and report the results of the school reports to the legislature biennially. Schools must provide comprehensive sexual health education no later than 5th grade. Required topics of instruction are described in RCW 28A.
Instruction should include a focus on helping students understand and respect personal boundaries, develop healthy friendships, and gain a basic understanding of human growth and development. Schools must provide comprehensive sexual health education at least twice in grades Best practice suggests providing instruction over time, building on earlier instruction. Students must receive age-appropriate instruction on affirmative consent and bystander training.
