• Health Education

    Health1  

    Health Education courses in U-46 are developed based on the required content from the Illinois School Code as well as the recommended curriculum guidance in the Illinois Learning Standards for Physical Development and Health and some content from the National Health Education Standards.  

    Opt Out of Health Education Content ISBE Information:

    The following provides information from the Illinois School Code regarding opt-out options.  Please contact your school principal or the Coordinator for Student Wellness for more information:

    Illinois School Code 105 ILCS 110/3 is a law that allows parents or guardians to opt out their child from certain classes and training programs: 
    • Family life instruction: Students can opt out of family life instruction, which includes the following content approved by the U46 BOE
      • Human Growth and Development (Grades 5,6,8,10)
      • Sexual Abstinence until marriage (Grades 8, 10)
      • Prevention and transmission of STIs and disease (Grades 8, 10)
      • Self-Esteem (Grades 5, 8, 10)
      • Risks of sexual activity (Grades 8, 10)
      • Sexual Decision-making and parenthood (Grade 10)
      • Danger and predator signs (Grades 4, 6)
    • Recognizing and avoiding sexual abuse: Students can opt out of Erin's Law presentations or content on recognizing and avoiding sexual abuse (Grades K-4, 6,8,10)
    • AIDS classes: Students can opt out of AIDS classes (prevention, transmission, and spread of AIDS (Grades 8, 10)
    • Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training: Students can opt out of CPR training. (Grade 8)
    • Automated external defibrillator (AED) training: Students can opt out of AED training. (Grade 8)

    Public Act 102-0522 (SB0818) Senate Bill 818

    School District U-46 leadership has reviewed Public Act 102-0522, also known as SB0818, which sets forth criteria for all classes that teach comprehensive personal health and safety, and comprehensive sexual health education and is aligned with the National Sexual Health Education Standards.  As of September 26, 2022, School District U46 will not be adopting the National Sexual Health Education Standards aligned with this act.  

    Should updates be mandated at a future date, School District U-46 will follow our curriculum adoption process to review the current curriculum, determine if revisions are needed, and bring forward formal curriculum proposals for approval via our internal procedures and Board of Education approval as outlined by the Board of Education policies.

     

    Elementary Health Education

    The curriculum for K-6 health education was presented to the Board of Education for review on November 18, 2024, was approved on December 18, 2024 and will be implemented in all U46 K-6 classrooms beginning in the 2025-2026 school year.  Detailed content is coming soon.  Please reach out to the Coordinator for Student Wellness if you have questions.

     

    Erin's Law

    Erin’s Law, or Illinois Public Act 097-1147, requires public schools to provide child sexual abuse prevention education for students within PreK-12th grade. 

    Erin's Law will educate children in public schools on sexual abuse prevention through an age-appropriate curriculum.  The curriculum uses role plays, discussions, activities, videos and books that give children the tools to speak up and tell a trusted adult if anyone touches them inappropriately.

    Educating children on safe touch, unsafe touch, safe secrets, and unsafe secrets, how to get away and tell a trusted adult today are all concepts discussed within the Erin's Law presentations. We teach children about bully prevention, stranger danger, internet safety, and we now teach them how to report if someone is violating them.  Unfortunately, without being educated, most children will be repeatedly abused for years because often the only message they get comes from their abuser threatening them into silence. 

    Erin Merryn, the advocate behind Erin's Law, made it her mission to shatter the silence and stigma around sexual abuse and to educate children and empower them with their voice.  As of 2024, Erin's Law has been passed in 38 states. 

    Below are links that explain what Erin's Law is, how to support your students, and what content is being shared in U-46 schools. Presentations are provided to students in grades PreK-4th grade.  This content is also discussed in 8th and 10th-grade health education. 

    Contact your school principal or Coordinator for Student Wellness for more details, specific content for each grade or opt-out information.

    Parent/Guardian Video English

    Parent/Guardian Video Spanish

    Text resources that may be used in classroom presentations include but are not limited to:  

    Some Secrets Should Never Be Kept-by Jayneen Sanders

    Algunes Secretos nunca deben guardarse- by Jayneen Sanders 

    My Body Belongs to Me from My Head to My Toes-Created by pro familia

    i Mi Cuerpo es Mio!- Created by pro familia

    C is for Consent-by Eleanor Morrison

     

    Middle School Health Education BOE Approved Curriculum

    Middle school health education is an 18-week course in eighth grade for all students. The unit themes below are reviewed and updated yearly to include new mandated content from the Regional Office of Education and the Illinois State Board of Education. This course content was adopted by the Board of Education in April, 2020. This Health Education curriculum is aligned to the National Health Education Standards, and the Illinois Instructional Mandates. 

    Contact your students' health education teacher for more information on daily lessons aligned to these topics.

    All About Me-Decision Making and Goal Setting

    Mental and Emotional Health-Self Management

    Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs-Interpersonal Skills

    Relationships-Social Wellness and Interpersonal Communication Skills

    Human Growth and Development-Reproductive Systems-Pregnancy Prevention

    Sexually Infectious Diseases

    Advocacy

     

    High School Health Education BOE Approved Curriculum

    The High School Health Education Curriculum was approved by the Board of Education in April 2020.  This curriculum is a Skills-Based approach to teaching knowledge as well as School Code mandated content.  This curriculum is aligned with the National Health Education Standards that focus on 7 skills students must know and be able to do to empower them to make healthy decisions and take control of their health.  Below are the curriculum unit topics that guide the lessons within your student's class.

    Contact your students' health education teacher for more information on daily lessons aligned to these topics.

    Analyzing Influences-Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs

    Accessing Valid and Reliable Information, Products, and Services-Healthy Eating for Disease Prevention

    Enhancing Health Behaviors-Mental Health

    Interpersonal Communication-Relationships and Human Sexuality

    Advocacy and Goal Setting