In 1987, §22.1-207.1 of the Code of Virginia was amended to direct the Board of Education to develop standards of learning and curriculum guidelines for a comprehensive, sequential family life education (FLE) curriculum in grades K through 12.

§22.1-207.1.  Family life education.

• As used in this section Abstinence education is defined as an educational or motivational component that has as its exclusive purpose teaching the social, psychological, and health gains to be realized by teenagers’ abstaining from sexual activity before marriage.

• …Shall include instruction as appropriate for the age of the student in the following:

  • 1. Family living and community relationships

    2. Benefits, challenges, responsibilities, and value of marriage for men, women, children, and communities

    3. The value of family relationships

    4. Abstinence education - the value of postponing sexual activity

    5. The benefits of adoption as a positive choice in the event of an unwanted pregnancy

    6. Human sexuality

    7. Human reproduction

    8. The prevention of human trafficking

    9. Dating violence

    10. The characteristics of abusive relationships

    11. Steps to take to deter sexual assault, the availability of counseling and legal resources, and, in the event of such sexual assault, the importance of immediate medical attention and advice, as well as the requirements of the law, 

    12. The etiology, prevention, and effects of sexually transmitted diseases

    13. Mental health education and awareness

• All such instruction shall be designed to promote parental involvement, foster positive self-concepts and provide mechanisms for coping with peer pressure and the stresses of modern living according to the students’ developmental stages and abilities.

§ 22.1-207.1:1 Family life education; certain curricula and Standards of Learning.

• Any family life education curriculum offered by a local school division shall require the Standards of Learning objectives related to dating violence and the characteristics of abusive relationships to be taught at least once in middle school and at least twice in high school, as described in the Board of Education’s family life education guidelines.

• Any high school family life curriculum offered by a local school division shall incorporate age-appropriate elements on:

  • • Prevention of dating violence

    • Domestic abuse

    • Sexual harassment, including sexual harassment using electronic means, sexual violence

    • Human trafficking

    • The law and meaning of consent - elements of effective and evidence-based programs on the prevention of sexual violence instruction that increases student awareness of the fact that consent is required before sexual activity

• Any elementary, middle, or high school family life curriculum offered by a local school division shall incorporate age-appropriate elements on the:

  • • Importance of personal privacy and personal boundaries of other individuals and tools for a student to use to ensure that he/she respects the personal privacy and personal boundaries of other individuals

    • Harmful physical and emotional effects of female genital mutilation, associated criminal penalties; and rights of the victim, including any civil action pursuant to § 8.01-42.5

    • Any family life education curriculum offered by a local school division may incorporate age-appropriate elements of effective and evidence-based programs on the prevention, recognition, and awareness of child abduction, child abuse, child sexual exploitation, and child sexual abuse.

• VDOE Website

• FLE Standards

• CCPS Curriculum Map

In accordance with the Code of Virginia, instruction in Clarke County Public Schools includes a comprehensive, sequential Family Life Education (FLE) program for Grade K through grade 10 (topics from grades 11 & 12 are incorporated into other HS grades). This curriculum is directly aligned to the FLE Virginia Department of Education Standards of Learning. The FLE program is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills to make informed, responsible decisions related to growth and development; communication and relationships; and emotional and social health. 

Although the FLE program is highly compatible with existing curricula and serves to enrich the educational experiences of students, FLE content may be considered sensitive. Therefore, parents and guardians have the right to review the family life education program offered by their school division, including written and audio-visual educational materials used in the program. Parents and guardians also have the right to excuse their child from all or part of family life education instruction. Students who are opted out will be provided with non-punitive instructional lessons during FLE instruction. 

Parents/guardians should review the FLE objectives pertaining to their child’s grade or course before making opt out decisions. Detailed grade level and standards are located on the CCPS webpage https://www.[insert link here].k12.va.us 

If you determine your child should NOT be included in FLE this school year, indicate the standards on the corresponding form that accompanies this accompanies this information the front office of the school prior to FLE instruction. Unless you indicate otherwise by turning in the attached form, your child will be included in classroom FLE lessons.  Parents/guardians transferring students to schools within CCPS are responsible for informing the new school of opt-out decisions.

If you have any questions about the CCPS Family Life Education program or would like more information, please contact the Director of Curriculum and Instruction (nailj@clarke.k12.va.us).  

• CCPS Opt-Out Forms (contact your school's front office for a digital version)